When India scripted historical past by lifting their first-ever ICC Ladies’s ODI World Cup title, one title echoed throughout the DY Patil Stadium — Shafali Verma. The 21-year-old opener, as soon as dropped and battling self-doubt, produced a Participant of the Match efficiency that can go down as one in every of Indian cricket’s most inspirational comeback tales. With a match-defining 87 off 78 balls and two essential wickets, Shafali reaffirmed her standing as India’s fearless younger powerhouse on the world stage. However this triumph wasn’t only a sporting milestone — it was redemption carved by grit, heartbreak, and untiring perception.
Dropped, Damaged, However Not Defeated — Shafali’s Turning Level
Barely a 12 months in the past, Shafali’s cricketing world cracked open. The explosive expertise who had lit up world T20 cricket was instantly unnoticed of the India squad, criticized for inconsistency. The setback arrived on the worst attainable time — simply days after her father, Sanjeev Verma, suffered a coronary heart assault. Defending him from stress, Shafali hid the painful information of her exclusion.
Her father’s message, nevertheless, was the spark she wanted.
“No drawback. You focus in your follow. Your time will come — simply be prepared,” Sanjeev reminded her.
As an alternative of crumbling, Shafali rebuilt. She returned to home cricket with renewed starvation, smashing over 900 runs, together with a blistering 197 within the BCCI One-Day Trophy quarterfinal and dominating the Challenger Trophy and Ladies’s Premier League. Her strike-rate? Fearsome. Her mindset? Unshakeable.
Late World Cup Name — And a Assertion Knock for the Ages
Regardless of her home dominance, Shafali was not named within the unique India Ladies’s World Cup 2025 squad. Destiny opened a door when Pratika Rawal suffered an harm — and Shafali grabbed the lifeline like a warrior.
Within the World Cup closing, with strain at its peak and expectations towering, she unleashed a daring but mature innings, anchoring India along with her 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana. Her calculated aggression, protection enhancements, and fearless lofted strokes showcased a batter in full management of her craft.
And when captain Harmanpreet Kaur handed her the ball, Shafali delivered once more — dismissing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp to interrupt South Africa’s spine.
Bat. Ball. Perception. Legacy second.
Coaches Who Refused to Clip Her Wings
On the Shri Ram Narain Cricket Academy in Rohtak, coaches Bajinder Sharma and Ashwani Kumar watched with satisfaction as their ward conquered the world.
“She was by no means afraid of the ball. We educated her with boys, gave her the liberty to hit huge, and later labored on persistence and shot placement,” Sharma recalled.
From practising towards U-19 and Ranji gamers to honing her spin bowling and strike rotation, Shafali advanced into an entire match-winner — with out dropping her trademark fireplace.