Indian cricketer Shafali Verma has opened up about her emotional return to the national team during the Women's World Cup 2025 semi-finals. After being out of international cricket for a year, she was called up as a replacement for injured opener Pratika Rawal, who suffered an ankle fracture. Shafali described the moment as feeling like divine recognition of her hard work during the difficult period away from the team. Despite the bittersweet circumstances of replacing an injured teammate, she made the opportunity count by delivering crucial performances in India's historic World Cup triumph. In the final against South Africa, she scored a vital half-century and took two important wickets, helping India post and defend a 299-run target. She credited senior players for building the foundation of women's cricket in India and expressed gratitude for being part of this golden era.
Emotional Comeback and World Cup Triumph
Shafali Verma revealed that being selected for the semi-final was her happiest moment after a year away from the team. She acknowledged the tough period but continued working hard throughout. When Pratika Rawal, the tournament's fourth-highest run-getter, suffered an ankle fracture, Shafali received the call-up. Though she felt uncomfortable replacing an injured teammate, she was grateful for the chance to contribute. In the final at DY Patil Stadium, her all-round performance proved decisive. She scored a crucial fifty while batting first and later bowled seven overs, claiming two vital wickets. Shafali thanked senior players like Anjum Chopra for keeping women's cricket alive, stating the current team is living the golden era created by their predecessors. She was recently retained by Delhi Capitals Women for INR 2.2 crore ahead of WPL 2026.
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