Just months ago, the conversation around Shafali Verma was brutally summed up by a headline — “No place for Shafali Verma in India’s World Cup squad.” The selectors opted for stability, leaving out one of Indian cricket’s most explosive young talents.
Today, in the Women’s ODI World Cup Final, the 20-year-old wrote a comeback tale for the ages.
Shafali smashed a magnificent 87 off 78 balls, lighting up DY Patil Stadium and handing India a dream start against South Africa. Her knock, filled with authority and maturity, formed the backbone of India’s innings — and firmly silenced every doubt about her place on the big stage.
Alongside Smriti Mandhana, she put on a historic 104-run opening partnership, only the second-ever century stand in a Women’s ODI World Cup final.
When she finally departed — caught by Sune Luus off Ayabonga Khaka — the crowd rose to applaud a special innings that fell just shy of a dream final hundred.
Record-breaking Brilliance
Shafali didn’t just score runs — she made history.
✅ Second-fastest fifty in a Women’s ODI World Cup final
✅ Youngest player to score a fifty in an ODI World Cup final
Shafali’s innings by footwork
| Movement | Runs (Balls) | SR |
|---|---|---|
| Front Foot | 30 (29) | 103.44 |
| Back Foot | 23 (23) | 100 |
| Down the Track | 31 (22) | 140.90 |
| Other | 3 (4) | 75 |
Down the track breakdown
| Vs | Runs (Balls) | 4s/6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pace | 13 (8) | 3 fours | 162.50 |
| Spin | 18 (14) | 1 six | 128.57 |
Aggressive. Calculated. World-class.
From Omission to Inspiration
Back in August, she was left out because selectors preferred continuity with Pratika Rawal. Even after stellar domestic and WPL campaigns, Shafali had to watch from the outside — rebuilding quietly, scoring heavily in domestic cricket, waiting.
Then came fate.
Rawal’s injury just before the semifinal opened the door — and Shafali walked through it with steel in her eyes.
She played a crucial semifinal…
And now, a once-in-a-lifetime final knock.
“Shafali Verma – what a story! Out of the ODI set-up for over a year, nowhere in the World Cup picture, grinding in domestic cricket… and now a fifty in the World Cup final.”
A statement. A reminder. A revival.
The Redemption Complete?
India were asked to bat — and Shafali answered with power and poise, proving exactly why she is a generational batting talent.
From “not in the squad” to “nearly the best knock ever in a World Cup final” — her journey underscores one truth:
Class doesn’t disappear. It waits for its moment.
Today, that moment belonged to Shafali Verma.
