Shafali Verma rises again: India’s young star delivers dream all-round show in World Cup 2025 Final
Shafali Verma silenced critics with a blistering 87-run knock and two key wickets in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Final, leading India’s charge against South Africa in Navi Mumbai.
Shafali Verma (Image | BCCI Women on X)
Last Updated: 11.12 PM, Nov 02, 2025
Few stories in cricket capture the spirit of redemption quite like Shafali Verma’s heroics in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Final. The young opener, who faced criticism and uncertainty about her place in the squad earlier this year, produced a performance of a lifetime when it mattered most. Her blazing 87 runs in the first innings and two vital wickets in the second not only lifted India’s title hopes but also marked her comeback as one of the defining stories of this World Cup.
Shafali’s Redemption: Power, Poise, and Purpose
When Shafali walked out to open the innings in Navi Mumbai, there was pressure. India needed a solid start, and she delivered in emphatic style. With clean hitting, confident footwork, and fearless intent, Shafali scored a magnificent 87 off 78 balls, a knock laced with 11 fours and 3 sixes. It wasn’t just a return to form; it was a statement. Alongside Smriti Mandhana, she built a century stand that set the tone for India’s total of 298/7.
However, her contribution didn’t end with the bat. In the second innings, Shafali proved her growing maturity as a cricketer by taking two crucial wickets. Her dismissal of Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp broke South Africa’s backbone just when the chase looked stable. Those breakthroughs shifted momentum back towards India and reaffirmed Shafali’s value as a game-changer.
From being on the sidelines to becoming India’s hero in a World Cup final, Shafali’s journey has been nothing short of cinematic. She faced doubts about her consistency and temperament, but in Navi Mumbai, she answered with both skill and spirit.
Where to watch the India Women vs South Africa Women, ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match online?
Cricket fans in India can watch the India Women vs South Africa Women, ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match online on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.