Two days after the high-pressure WPL 2025 final, Shafali Verma was back on the field, donning the Haryana jersey in the Women’s Under-23 One-Day Trophy. While most players would have opted for a breather, Shafali wasted no time in getting back to work, taking charge of her state team in the pre-quarterfinal against Karnataka.
The Indian opener may not have fired with the bat, but she made a match-winning impact with the ball, grabbing a stunning hat-trick that turned the game on its head and propelled Haryana into the quarterfinals.
Facing Karnataka, Haryana were tasked with chasing 217 after a crucial bowling display. The match was finely poised when Karnataka stood at 188/4 with just over six overs left. A late acceleration could have taken them to a formidable 230-240—but Shafali had other plans.
In a game-changing spell, she dismissed Saloni P, Soumya Verma, and Namita D’Souza on consecutive deliveries across two overs (43.5, 43.6, and 45.1), crippling Karnataka’s lower order and swinging the momentum in Haryana’s favor.
Despite boundaries from Ananya Hegde and Srinithi P Rai, the total proved insufficient as Sonia Mehndiya and Tanisha Ohlan led Haryana’s chase with composed fifties, securing victory and setting up a quarterfinal clash against Madhya Pradesh.
Shafali’s impact wasn’t just limited to this game—her recent domestic form has been nothing short of spectacular. After being dropped from India’s squad, she refused to fade away. Instead, she dominated domestic cricket, topping the charts in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy (527 runs, 152.31 strike rate, 75.29 average) and the Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy (414 runs, 145.26 strike rate, 82.80 average).
Her aggressive batting at the top has made her one of the most dangerous openers in world cricket, a fact reinforced by her stellar WPL 2025 campaign with Delhi Capitals. In the recently concluded WPL season, she amassed 304 runs at an average of 38, striking at a blistering 152.76. Her unbeaten 80 against RCB showcased the kind of damage she can inflict once she settles in.
Interestingly, despite her bowling abilities, Shafali wasn’t handed the ball in WPL 2025. However, in domestic cricket, she has continued to show her all-round prowess, adding crucial wickets to her name. Her international record already boasts 85 T20Is, 2045 runs, a best of 81, and a strike rate of 129.10, alongside 10 wickets, with a best of 3/15.
With the World Cup on the horizon, every performance in domestic cricket counts. Shafali Verma’s commitment—jumping straight from the WPL final into a U23 knockout match—sends a strong message. She is ready to do whatever it takes to earn her spot back in the senior side. And with performances like these, selectors will find it hard to ignore her.
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