The night truly belonged to Shafali Verma, the fearless 21-year-old who turned the final into her personal stage, as countless emotional moments were visible during India’s maiden ICC Women’s World Cup triumph. Her all-round brilliance powered India past South Africa to mark a historic chapter in Indian women’s cricket.
How Did Shafali Verma Script India’s Fairytale Finish?
Called in as an injury replacement for Pratika Rawal ahead of the semifinals, Shafali made every moment count in the final at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium.
Opening with Smriti Mandhana, she hammered a career-best 87 off 78 balls, packed with seven boundaries and two sixes.
But it wasn’t just her batting that defined the night with the ball, she removed two of South Africa’s most dangerous players, Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp, to swing the match firmly India’s way.
And Shafali Verma’s efforts won her the ‘Player of the Match’ as India won by 52 runs to lift their first-ever World Cup title.
What Did Shafali Say After the Women’s World Cup Final?
An overjoyed Shafali said she felt her moment was preordained.
“I said in the starting that God has sent me to do something good. And today that was reflected. I am very happy that we finally won the World Cup,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.
She credited her calm mindset and self-belief for the performance.
“It was difficult, but I believed in myself. My parents, my brother, and my friends supported me a lot. Everyone reminded me how important this final was, for me and for the whole team.
What Role Did Harmanpreet Kaur & Team Support Play?
Shafali attributed the reason for her focussed approach to the building of trust and togetherness in the team.
“Harman was always there for me. The team kept saying, ‘play your natural game’. When you get that much clarity and confidence from your captain and teammates, you just feel unstoppable,” she shared.
Shafali Verma on Sachin Tendulkar
But one moment stood out, however, when the young star spotted Sachin Tendulkar in the stands.
“When I saw Sachin sir, I got a different kind of boost. He always gives me confidence whenever we talk. Seeing him there inspired me to give my best,” Shafali said.
