Indian opener Shafali Verma has used her luck brilliantly as she scored her highest runs in Women's ODI career during the Final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 against South Africa Women at Navi Mumbai on Sunday (November 2) night.

Shafali Verma replaced injured Pratika Rawal for the knockout stages

Shafali Verma has been added to the India Women's squad for the knockout stages of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, after the in-form opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury in their last league stage game against Bangladesh Women. More importantly, Verma wasn't selected in the original reserve squad for the tournament. 

While Verma was dismissed for 10 runs off six balls in the Semi-final against Australia Women, where India Women successfully chased the record-breaking 339-run target, she played an unforgettable knock in the Final. 

See Also: Smriti Mandhana creates new World Cup history for India Women during IND-W vs SA-W Final of Women's Cricket World Cup 2025

Shafali Verma scored 87 runs off 78 balls

India Women were sent to bat first in the Final at a high-scoring Navi Mumbai, where the match started two hours after the scheduled time due to rain. The Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma set a 104-run partnership for the first wicket. While Smriti was dismissed for 45 runs, Shafali played a strong knock, as she scored her fifth WODI half-century, which was her first WODI fifty in more than three years. She completed this memorable half-century in 49 balls, while the right-handed batter hit five fours and one six. 

While Shafali was dropped for 57 runs, as Anneke Bosch dropped the tough chance at deep mid-wicket, she played a magnificent knock of 87 off 78 balls before getting out in the 28th over. Shafali hit seven fours and two sixes to produce that memorable knock. 

It was Shafali Verma's highest score in the Women's ODI career. Her previous record was 71 not out against Sri Lanka Women during the 2022 Pallekele WODI.