On Sunday, November 9, Shafali Verma, the Indian opening batter, revealed her journey to winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2025 earlier this month to reporters after a felicitation event
in Rohtak, Haryana. The 21-year-old replaced fellow opener Pratika Rawal in the knockout stages of the tournament after the latter suffered a hairline fracture in her right ankle prior to delivering a stupendous performance in the title victory.
In the semi-final against Australia at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Shafali Verma scored 10 off 5 with two fours in pursuit of 339-run target at the top of the order, which the Indian cricket team managed to overhaul with an epic unbeaten hundred from Jemimah Rodrigues. She saved her best for the World Cup final against South Africa at the same venue, scoring a breezy 87 off 78 with seven fours and two sixes before taking two key wickets in the run chase to become the player of the match on the grand stage.
Last year was tough for me. I faced many struggles, but I kept working hard: Shafali Verma
In her chat with the reporters in Rohtak, Haryana, Shafali Verma alluded to her time being out of the national set-up before making the Indian squad as a replacement player for the World Cup knockout stages, where the youngster delivered the performance of a life-time in the final. She was quoted as saying, as per ESPNcricinfo, “The last year was tough for me. I faced many struggles, but I kept working hard and was rewarded by God for my effort.”
“When I joined the team ahead of the semi-final, I was determined to contribute to the World Cup win. The final is always a big stage. Initially, I was a bit nervous, but I calmed myself, focused on my strategy, and executed it well. That helped me deliver an all-round performance,” added the 21-year-old. She also spoke about how the young girls like her to focus on always working hard apart from having the self-belief and then, the results will follow in regards to whatever they do.
Moreover, Shafali Verma also spoke about her thought process ahead of the World Cup final, “I tried to stay calm and execute my plans, and things went as expected. The only thought was that we had to give our all in those seven hours for our country.”
