Shafali Verma delivered a career-defining performance in the Women's Cricket World Cup final against South Africa, played on November 2, 2025, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The young opener's aggressive and mature innings of 87 runs off 78 balls provided India with a flying start and set the foundation for a competitive total.
Verma's inclusion in the World Cup squad was a result of an unfortunate injury to Pratika Rawal, who had been impressive in the tournament until then. Recalled for the knockout stage, Verma had a quiet outing against Australia in the semi-final, scoring just 10 runs. However, she repaid the faith shown by the team management and selectors by delivering a spectacular performance in the final.
South Africa won the toss and elected to field, hoping to exploit any early morning moisture. However, Verma, along with Smriti Mandhana, defied the conditions and formed a formidable opening partnership. Verma took the attack to the South African bowlers from the outset, finding the boundary with regularity. Her aggressive intent was evident as she reached her half-century in just 49 balls, smashing five fours and a six. This marked the end of a three-year drought without a fifty for Verma.
The opening pair added 104 runs, providing India with a solid platform. Mandhana, who also looked in good touch, contributed 45 runs before being dismissed. During her innings, Mandhana surpassed Mithali Raj's record for the most runs by an Indian batter in a single edition of the Women's World Cup.
Verma continued to bat with a combination of aggression and composure. After reaching her half-century, she had to battle through cramps, which visibly hampered her running between the wickets. Despite the physical discomfort, she persevered and looked set for a century. However, she fell short of the milestone, dismissed for 87 while trying to accelerate the scoring. Her innings included seven boundaries and two sixes.
Verma's knock was not only her highest individual score in ODIs but also the highest score by an Indian in a Women's World Cup final, surpassing Punam Raut's 86 in 2017. Her performance also came close to Gautam Gambhir's 97, the highest score by an Indian in a Men's World Cup final.
Verma's father, Sanjeev Verma, watched the match with other family members at the local cricket academy in Rohtak, where she honed her skills. He expressed his delight at her performance, saying he had advised her to play her natural game and spend time at the crease.
Shafali Verma's journey has been remarkable. At 15, she became the youngest cricketer to play in a Women's T20 International for India. She has since become an integral part of the Indian team across all formats, and even captained the India Under-19 team to victory in the 2023 T20 World Cup. This innings in the World Cup final is a testament to her talent, hard work, and mental fortitude, solidifying her place as one of the most exciting cricketers in the world.
