Opener Shafali Verma has opened up about the difficulties she faced before becoming one of the key players in India’s historic 2025 Women’s World Cup victory. She joined the squad as an last-minute replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, and delivered a match-winning all-round performance in the final.
“The last year was tough for me,” Shafali told reporters in Rohtak, Haryana. “I faced many struggles, but I kept working hard and was rewarded by God for my effort.”
Though she couldn’t create much impact in the semi-final against Australia, where she scored only 10, she used theopportunity perfectly in the final and was named Player of the Match, for her 87 and 2 wickets for 36 runs, in India’s 52-run win over South Africa.
The 21 year-old explained her mindset, saying, “When I joined the team ahead of the semi-final, I was determined to contribute to the World Cup win.” She revealed that initiallyshe felt nervous, but settled down quickly. “The final is always a big stage,” she said. “Initially, I was a bit nervous, but I calmed myself, focused on my strategy, and executed it well. That helped me deliver an all-round performance.”
In Rohtak, fans and officials gave her a warm welcome, andshe encouraged young girls to believe in themselves. “They should always work hard in whatever field they choose and have self-belief,” said Shafali. “The results will follow.”
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