Shafali Verma etched her name in history at the ICC Women’s World Cup Final 2025 held at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. At just 21 years and 279 days old, she became the youngest player ever to be named Player of the Match in a World Cup semi-final or final across both men’s and women’s cricket. Her spectacular all-around performance, which included a brilliant 87 runs and two vital wickets, steered India to their inaugural ICC Women’s World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs.
This triumphant victory marks India’s first world title, effectively ending their long-standing drought in ICC tournaments. The win is widely anticipated to have a profound and positive impact on the growth and development of women’s cricket throughout the nation.
Verma’s innings of 87 not only contributed significantly to the win but also set a new benchmark, becoming the highest score by an Indian player in a Women’s World Cup final. She surpassed Punam Raut’s previous record of 86, achieved in the 2017 final against England.
The formidable opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Verma laid a crucial foundation for India’s success. They forged a century-stand, accumulating 104 runs before Mandhana was dismissed for 45 by Chloe Tryon. Their dynamic partnership reached fifty runs in just 6.3 overs and delivered a powerful 64 runs within the first ten overs.
Following the match, a jubilant Verma shared her thoughts: “I said at the start that God has sent me here to do something nice, and that reflected today. I am incredibly happy that we won, and I truly cannot express it in words. It was challenging, but I always had confidence in myself – believing that if I could stay calm, I could achieve anything. My parents, my friends, my brother, and everyone supported me and guided me on how to approach the game. This victory was immensely important for both my team and myself, and my sole desire was to ensure my team emerged victorious.”
She further added, “My mind was clear, and I focused on executing my plans. I am so happy that I could deliver, and Smriti di and Harman di, along with everyone else, were incredibly supportive. They (the senior players) simply asked me to play my natural game, and that kind of clarity is all you need. This is a truly memorable moment.”
Verma also revealed that the presence of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar at the stadium provided her with immense inspiration. “When I saw him (Sachin Tendulkar), it gave me an incredible boost. I continuously communicate with him, and he consistently instills confidence in me. He is the master of cricket, and we are constantly inspired just by observing him,” she concluded.