All eyes were on India's explosive batter Shafali Verma in the crunch Women's World Cup 2025 semifinal, which marked her ODI return after a while. However, Shafali's comeback didn't pan out the way she expected it and it ended in a heartbreak at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Shafali Verma's torrid World Cup return
Tasked with chasing a formidable target of 339, a successful chase of which would be the highest in Women's ODI history, the young opener managed just 10 runs off five balls before being dismissed by Kim Garth in the second over. This early loss was a significant blow to India's challenging pursuit.
The circumstances surrounding Verma's appearance added to the pressure, as she was not initially named in India’s World Cup squad and was overlooked for Uma Chetry when Yastika Bhatia sustained an injury. Her opportunity finally arrived later in the tournament when Pratika Rawal was injured during the match against Bangladesh. Despite bringing in strong domestic form—including a recent century in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy—Shafali was unable to make the expected impact, resulting in a crucial early setback for the hosts in the high-stakes semi-final.
Harmanpreet Kaur-Jemimah Rodrigues' bravado after Shafali's dismal end
Facing the daunting chase, Shafali Verma began her innings with characteristic aggression. She took first strike, getting off the mark with a single off Megan Schutt. She quickly found the boundary with a well-timed shot off a leg-side delivery from Schutt, before going on the attack against Kim Garth, dispatching a crisp four over the covers. However, Garth struck back immediately. The very next delivery swung sharply into the opener's pads, leading to the umpire raising the finger.
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Though Shafali opted for a review, replays confirmed the ball was hitting the stumps, resulting in not only an early wicket but also the loss of India's review. This brief appearance highlights a continuing challenge for the young star. Since making her ODI debut as a 15-year-old back in 2019, Shafali has struggled to become a regular fixture in the national side. She notably lost her place after the bilateral series against New Zealand last year and has since battled to find consistent form required at the international level. Her record against the formidable Australian side remains modest, with only 109 runs scored across six innings at a low average of 18.16. Given her intermittent inclusion and recent struggles, her position in the ODI team after the conclusion of the Women's World Cup remains uncertain. The team management will likely assess whether to retain her in the longer-term white-ball plans.
Talking about the match, after Shafali's dismissal, Smriti Mandhana too returned to the pavilion after scoring just 24. left India in jitters but then Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues combined to rally India from a precarious 59/2 to 226/3 as of 35.2 overs before the India captain was sent the marching orders by Annbel Sutherland at 89. The duo stitched together a robust 167-run partnership.