India was desperate. And rightfully so. Had it not been, they would not have looked beyond their reserves to fill the void left by Pratika Rawal’s unfortunate injury on the eve of the Women’s World Cup semi-final. The selectors had names on the standby list – Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Sayali Satghare – but none quite matched the profile India was looking for. So came Shafali Verma, the forgotten batsman of the new age of Indian cricket.
It was a strange twist of fate – and fortune – for Shafali. She was overlooked twice, first when the first group was announced and again when Yastika Bhatia’s injury opened a temporary window, but Uma Chetry was given priority.
But fate, as it happens, found its own time. When Pratika limped off against New Zealand, Shafali’s phone finally rang.
It’s been a year since she last donned India’s ODI blues. Now he is on the verge of redemption – likely to walk out alongside Smriti Mandhan in the high profile semi-final against Australia.
The buzz, the noise, the emotion – everyone will be around her. But amid the glow, one question lingers: can Shafali Verma turn luck into form and prove that it wasn’t luck that brought her back, but faith?
SHAFALI IN HOT FORM
Form doesn’t lie – and Shafali Verma’s numbers screamed for attention. When Pratika Rawal’s injury created a vacancythe selectors could no longer look past a right-handed lad who tore up home runs for fun.
In the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, Shafali tops the run charts – 341 runs in seven innings at an average of 56.83 and a strike rate of 182.35 – a combination that speaks of both consistency and chaos.
Her intention was clear from the first ball of the season. A blistering 55 off 24 against Odisha set the tone, followed by a ruthless 39 off just 13 balls against Hyderabad. Then came the showstopper – a masterclass of controlled aggression against Himachal Pradesh at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium in Gwalior.
Shafali struck a 57-ball hundred, remaining unbeaten on 107 off 61 and leading her team to an impressive 70-run victory. She declared 70 off 41 against Tripura, sealing her dominance.
Even in the World Cup warm-ups, the spark was unmistakable. Her 70 off 49 against Australia A in Bengaluru reminded everyone what she can do when rhythm meets opportunity. Form, flow, taste – all in sync.
And yet the question remains: can Shafali Verma, armed with momentum and a dash of luck, hold her own against the most disciplined bowling attack in the women’s game – Australia’s?
SHAFALI’S CONCERNING NUMBERS
For all her pyrotechnics in domestic cricket, Shafali Verma’s ODI story remains unfinished. Since his debut as a 15-year-old prodigy in 2019, the numbers have barely lived up to the promise – 29 matches, an average of 23 and no half-century in over three years. Her last fifty came against Sri Lanka in July 2022 – a statistic that speaks to both inconsistency and underutilisation.
Against Australia, the challenge was even tougher. In five ODIs, she managed just 99 runs at 19.80, with her strike rate dropping to a paltry 68.27 — a far cry from her usual pace. Darcie Brown seemed to have her measure as she dismissed her three times while Sophie Molineux got her twice.
In her first World Cup ODI in New Zealand, Shafali flashed briefly – 107 runs in four matches with a solitary fifty – before disappearing from the XI.
And yet, despite those staggering numbers, Shafali brings something that statistics can’t quite quantify — spark. Her presence alone changes India’s body language, her intent raises the tempo and her freedom at the crease can shake even the best. Australia, for all their data and discipline, know the threat they pose.
India, meanwhile, will be quietly hoping that this version of Shafali – mature but fearless – can do what she does best: set the tone early and offer Smriti Mandhana the partnership stability that Pratika once provided.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
October 29, 2025
