Destiny’s child Shafali Verma found her way back into the Indian women’s ODI side in unfortunate circumstances but left an indelible mark on the team’s victorious World Cup campaign.
Navi Mumbai
If Shafali Verma were to get a tattoo that read “God’s Plan,” few would disagree that it perfectly defines her journey. Once sidelined from the World Cup squad, the 21-year-old opener returned under unexpected circumstances and emerged as one of the defining faces of India’s title-winning campaign.
Dropped just months earlier, Shafali was recalled after in-form opener Pratika Rawal suffered an injury on the eve of the semifinals. Having been in domestic action for Haryana in Surat, she immediately joined the team and spent long hours batting at the DY Patil Stadium nets before the knockout stage.
“What happened with Pratika was unfortunate, but maybe God sent me here to do something good,” she said before the semifinal.
After a brief cameo against Australia, Shafali delivered a masterful 87 in the final, setting up India’s innings with poise and power. Her aggressive stroke play and composure provided the backbone of India’s 298/7 total.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur revealed that Shafali’s surprise inclusion as a part-time bowler turned into a game-changer. “It was a gut feeling to give her the ball. She struck twice, and that shifted momentum,” she said.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar credited Shafali’s domestic form: “She was bowling four overs every T20 match. We knew she could fill that sixth-bowler role if needed.”
Whether she retains her place once Pratika returns remains to be seen, but Shafali’s redemption arc stands as a testament to faith, preparation, and seizing destiny’s call — truly a chapter written in God’s plan.
