Dropped from the national squad but refusing to fade away, Shafali Verma continues to let her bat do the talking. While her name remained in BCCI’s Grade B contract list for 2024-25, guaranteeing her an annual retainer of INR 30 lakh, her absence from the Indian squad since October was a hard pill to swallow. However, Shafali is not one to sit back. Her response? An onslaught in domestic cricket, one that has selectors keeping a close watch.
Her hunger for runs carried into the Senior Women’s Multi-Day Challenger Trophy, where she saved India C from a crisis against India D. The early blows were delivered by Kashvee Gautam, who struck twice in quick succession. First, she dismissed Uma Chetry for a duck (0 off 5), and then, she sent Tanusree Sarkar back for 1 (9) with the score at 10 for 2.
At a precarious position, Shafali Verma was joined by skipper Jemimah Rodrigues, and what followed was a counterattack of the highest quality. The two put together a 103-run partnership off 114 balls, steadying the innings and shifting the momentum. While Jemimah played a patient 26 off 42 balls, it was Shafali who dictated the game’s pace, hammering 76 off 72 deliveries.
Even after Jemimah departed at 113 for 3, Shafali didn’t relent. Partnering with Tejal Hasabnis, the duo added another 86 runs off 89 balls, further consolidating India C’s position. Hasabnis played a crucial role, scoring 59 off 61 in the partnership, ensuring that Shafali had the support she needed at the other end.
Shafali’s brilliant knock of 108 off 104 balls, laced with 19 boundaries, came to an end when Sneh Rana bowled her, giving India D a crucial breakthrough and shifting the momentum.
The WPL 2025 was another feather in her cap, where she piled up 304 runs at an average of 38 and a blistering strike rate of 152.76, with her unbeaten 80 against RCB being one of the highlights.
Then just two days after a high-pressure WPL 2025 final, she was back in action, donning Haryana colors in the Women’s U23 One-Day Trophy. The Indian opener wasn’t in the mood for a break and turned the match on its head with a stunning hat-trick, helping Haryana surge into the quarterfinals.
Her domestic numbers this season have been nothing short of extraordinary. She dominated the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy, amassing 527 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 152.31 and an average of 75.29. She followed it up with a stellar run in the Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy, smashing 414 runs at a strike rate of 145.26, averaging 82.80.
While her exclusion from the Indian squad may have raised eyebrows, her performances have spoken louder than words. Not only has she dominated with the bat, but she has also proven her all-round ability, stepping up with the ball whenever required.
With the World Cup looming, every domestic innings becomes an audition, and Shafali Verma is ensuring her name remains impossible to ignore. From WPL fireworks to match-winning hat-tricks and now a statement knock in the Challenger Trophy, Shafali is making one thing clear—she is far from done.
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