She wasn’t even part of the squad, and was eventually called up in the most unfortunate circumstances when Pratika Rawal was injured. Call it divine providence or call it an absolute masterstroke, but Shafali Verma played the stellar hand in winning the Women’s World Cup for India. First with the bat, with a brilliant 87. An innings that was worth more than a 100. She kept the scoreboard moving and decidedly put the pressure on South Africa after India lost the toss yet again. A strong start was a must and Shafali and Smriti Mandhana ensured India got it. Some of her shots were brilliant and the best part was she did not give it away, something she had been guilty of in the past.
But then, with the bat, one expected her to do something at the top. Not so much with the ball. All tournament, Harmanpreet Kaur was called out for her captaincy. The Shafali move was the one that will be remembered forever. South Africa were going well when the skipper went to Shafali. And it was met with instant success. Two wickets in two, one of which was the legend Marizanne Kapp – that was when India got the match under control. And in that wicket, Richa Ghosh, who has been average at best as wicketkeeper, moved perfectly to take the catch down leg. It was the moment that summed up the match. Every aspect that India needed to improve – with the ball and on the field – was seen and, all of a sudden, the blue wave erupted at the DY Patil. This is not to forget the run-out by Amanjot Kaur that set the tone and her juggling catch of Laura Wolvaardt that finally put the seal on an unforgettable display.
This is a victory for the ages, and will change the game forever. Tomorrow morning, thousands will pick up the bat or ball and decide to become cricketers. Overnight, this sport will become a viable profession, and finally, women’s cricket has its own 1983 moment. The men weren’t able to get over the line in November 2023. The women did so in 2025. India will celebrate this for long, and a home World Cup win will take us back to that night of April 2, 2011. This is a night like no other for Harmanpreet, Smriti, Jemi and every player who played today. And the ones on the bench. They are now a cult that a billion will celebrate.
For More Sports Related News: Follow RevSportz