The pair of Shefali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave a great start to India in the Women’s ODI World Cup final, both of them made a century partnership (104) for the first wicket. In the final, South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl first. Shefali played a brilliant inning of 87 runs in 78 balls, in which she hit 2 sixes and 7 fours. She missed her century, being dismissed by Ayabanga Khaka in the 28th over.
Hit a six in the style of Sachin Tendulkar
Of the two sixes hit by Shefali Verma in the World Cup final, one was of 73 meters. In the style of Sachin Tendulkar, he hit a six on the sight screen in long straight without swinging the bat completely. He hit this shot in the 15th over bowled by Nadine de Klerk, with this shot the entire stadium echoed with noise.
A shot that leaves you going 😯😳🤯
We’re witnessing vintage #ShafaliVermadelivering on the grandest stage, just when it matters the most!
#CWC25 Final 👉 #INDvSALIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/gGh9yFhTix pic.twitter.com/1mwc8WsLH9— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 2, 2025
Got a chance due to Pratika Rawal’s injury
Shafali Verma was dropped from the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 team, she was not a part of the squad earlier. Pratika Raval was also performing brilliantly in the opening, but due to injury she had to be out of the tournament. After this, she played the first match of the tournament against Australia in the semi-finals, but was out after scoring 10 runs. There was pressure on him in the final, but he played a brilliant inning of 87 runs.
There’s a long way to go in the big final but Shafali Verma deserves a lot of praise already. She was not in the initial squad, came in as a replacement and took on SA bowlers right from the word go.
It’s never easy to play aggressive game in the…
— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) November 2, 2025
Shefali Verma’s mood was going off
While talking to ANI, before the finals, Shefali Verma’s mother had told that Shefali was in a bit of a mood because she could not score big in the semi-finals. So we joked with him and said that no problem, you will do well in the next match. He had said that we have full hope from Shefali, and the team will come back only after winning the World Cup.
#WATCH Rohtak, Haryana: On Women’s World Cup 2025 Final, Shafali Verma’s Mother Parveen Bala says, “… We all are excited and full of hope for Shafali, she is determined to perform well from start to finish to help the team win… We called and encouraged Shafali not to worry… pic.twitter.com/1WZhNsqo5h
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2025
Let us tell you that Shefali Verma first thought of becoming a cricketer after seeing Sachin Tendulkar. She saw Sachin in a Ranji Trophy match in Rohtak, where she got inspired by the God of Cricket.

