The 2025 Women’s World Cup final has captured the world’s attention. As the match unfolds, India’s young opener, Shafali Verma, has once again proved her grit on the grandest stage. After being recalled into the squad as a late injury replacement, the 21-year-old has silenced her critics with an impressive 87-run knock off 78 balls, along with picking up two crucial wickets in the beginning as of now.
However, her journey to the world stage has not been easy despite bringing home the first Under-19 women’s World Cup. Know how Shafali had to go from hiding the news of being dropped from the Indian side after her father suffered a heart attack to rising on the global stage.
Why was Shafali Verma dropped from the Indian women’s squad?
Just a few months before India’s women’s cricket team was about to be selected for the ODI World Cup 2025, Shafali faced one of the most difficult phases of her life, both personally and professionally. On one hand, she was dropped from the Indian squad for the Australia tour after a string of low scores due to her inconsistent scores with the bat. On the other hand, her father’s health was deteriorating day by day. Recalling how she did not dare to break the news to her father, Shafali told The Indian Express:
