Shafali Verma was called up late to replace Pratika Rawal, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury, despite not having been in either the main 15 or the reserves for India’s Women’s World Cup roster.
On October 30, Shafali Verma, 21, is available for India’s matchup with Australia in the semi-final.
The only batter in India’s reserves for the World Cup, Tejal Hasabnis, was passed over by the selectors in favor of her.
Because the selectors valued consistency over X-factor, Shafali Verma was left off of the World Cup roster when it was revealed in August. Rawal was instead chosen to be Smriti Mandhana’s starting partner. Although Shafali Verma hasn’t played in an ODI for India since October 2024, he has participated in 50-over matches with India A. She scored 70 against New Zealand A in Bengaluru in September and 52 against Australia A in Brisbane in August.
Shafali Verma also made 527 runs for Haryana in domestic one-day matches in December 2024, including a high score of 197 off 115 balls against Bengal, at an average of 75.28 and a strike rate of 152.31. She then went on to have an incredible WPL 2025 season with the Delhi Capitals, hitting 304 runs with a strike rate of 152.76, making her the most prolific Indian hitter and the fourth-highest run scorer of the season.
Shafali Verma might start the semi-final match against Australia straight away as Rawal’s replacement. For India to go to the semi-finals, the opening duo of Mandhana and Rawal had proved essential. They have already appeared in two of the top five batting partnerships in the tournament: 212 against Australia and 155 against New Zealand. Rawal scored a match-winning 122 in India’s pivotal encounter against New Zealand and 75 against Australia while averaging 51.33 in six innings.
The second-highest run scorer in the competition, Rawal, hurt herself while fielding in India’s most recent league match against Bangladesh. Rawal twisted her ankle trying to save a boundary in the 21st over of Bangladesh’s innings when her foot became trapped in the turf. Instead of batting later, she opened for Amanjot Kaur. Ultimately, the game was canceled without a conclusion. The only player to score more runs than Rawal in this World Cup is Mandhana.
India may open against Australia with Harleen Deol or Amanjot if Shafali does not immediately make the starting lineup. Another option is Jemimah Rodrigues, who has opened 18 times in ODI cricket, and Uma Chetry, who opened in the warm-up match against New Zealand and played in the match against Bangladesh with regular wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh out due to a niggle.
The Event Technical Committee authorized Shafali Verma entry on Monday night, according to an ICC release. Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager for Cricket, Gaurav Saxena, ICC General Manager for Events and Corporate Communications, Abey Kuruvilla, BCCI Tournament Director, and Mel Jones, an independent candidate, are on the committee.
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