Shafali Verma on World Cup Triumph: ‘A Year of Hard Work, and God Finally Rewarded Me’

Shafali Verma: Hard Work, Faith and a Fairytale Return to World Cup Glory.

Shafali Verma’s comeback to India’s one-day side could hardly have been scripted better. After spending close to a year out of the ODI setup, the 21-year-old produced a stunning all-round performance to power India to their first-ever 50-over World Cup title.

Her return wasn’t even planned. Shafali was drafted into the squad only after opener Pratika Rawal twisted her ankle during the match against Bangladesh, ruling her out of the tournament. That late call-up turned into destiny fulfilled — Shafali struck 87 off 78 balls at the top and followed it with 2 for 36 in the final, earning the Player of the Match award as India lifted the trophy.

Speaking during her felicitation in Rohtak, Shafali said the past year had tested her resolve. “The last one year was very tough for me. I faced a lot of struggles, but I kept working extremely hard, and God rewarded me for my effort,” she told PTI.

When she rejoined the squad before the semifinal, nerves gave way to focus. “Initially, I was a bit nervous, but I calmed myself, stuck to my plan and just wanted to contribute to the team’s win,” she said.

The turnaround was built through months of quiet work. After being dropped due to inconsistent performances, Shafali rebuilt her game in domestic cricket — topping the run charts in both the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy and the Challenger Trophy. Her strike rate remained explosive, but her batting showed new layers of maturity and composure.

That transformation was evident in the final, where she combined controlled aggression with smart shot selection during a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana. Later, her crucial breakthroughs — dismissing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp — sealed South Africa’s fate.

The win was more than redemption; it was validation. “Missing a century didn’t matter. Winning the World Cup did,” Shafali said. “My family stood by me through everything. This trophy is as much theirs as mine.”

She also left a message for young girls inspired by her journey:

“Work hard, believe in yourself, and the results will follow.”