Shafali Verma Earns Late World Cup Call-Up After Rawal Ankle Injury
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India’s women’s Cricket World Cup campaign has received a dramatic shake-up with the late inclusion of Shafali Verma, replacing the injured Pratika Rawal for the semi-final clash against australia on October 30.
The unexpected call-up comes after Rawal suffered an ankle injury during India’s final league match against Bangladesh.Rawal,the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer,twisted her ankle while attempting a boundary save in the 21st over of the Bangladesh innings.She was unable to bat, with Amanjot Kaur opening in her place, and the match was ultimately washed out due to rain.
Shafali, 21, was initially omitted from both the 15-player squad and the reserve list when the team was announced in August. At the time, selectors prioritized consistency, favoring Rawal as Smriti Mandhana’s opening partner. However, the team management has now opted for the explosive potential that Shafali brings to the side. A senior official stated that the decision to include Shafali was made after careful consideration of the team’s needs heading into the crucial semi-final.
Despite not featuring in ODIs for India since October 2024, Shafali has remained active in the 50-over format with India A, demonstrating her continued form with scores of 52 against Australia A in Brisbane in August and 70 against New Zealand A in Bengaluru in september. Her domestic performances have been equally extraordinary, highlighted by a stunning 527 runs at an average of 75.28 and a strike rate of 152.31 in December 2024 for Haryana, including a blistering 197 off 115 balls against Bengal.
Shafali further cemented her credentials with a sensational WPL 2025 season for Delhi capitals, finishing as the fourth-highest run-getter with 304 runs at a strike rate of 152.76 – the most prolific Indian batter in the league.
rawal’s Impact and Potential Replacements
rawal’s absence is a notable blow to India, having formed a formidable opening partnership with Mandhana. The duo registered two of the tournament’s top five batting partnerships: a 212-run stand against New Zealand and a 155-run partnership against Australia. Rawal averaged 51.33 across six innings, including a match-winning 122 against New Zealand and a valuable 75 against Australia. Only Mandhana has accumulated more runs than Rawal in the tournament thus far.
While Shafali’s inclusion immediately raises the possibility of her featuring in the playing XI, India has several options to consider at the top of the order. Harleen Deol and Amanjot Kaur are potential opening partners for Mandhana, while Uma Chetry – who opened in the warm-up match against New Zealand and against Bangladesh when Richa Ghosh was sidelined with a minor injury – and jemimah Rodrigues, with 18 prior ODI opening appearances, are also in contention.
ICC Approval and Team Dynamics
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed Shafali’s inclusion following approval from the Event Technical Committee on Monday evening. The committee comprises Wasim Khan (Chair, ICC General manager – Cricket), Gaurav Saxena (ICC General Manager – Events & Corporate communications), Abey Kuruvilla (BCCI Tournament Director), and Mel Jones (Autonomous nominee).
Shafali’s arrival injects a new dynamic into the indian batting lineup as they prepare to face a formidable Australian side. The selectors’ decision to prioritize the dynamic potential of Shafali over the established consistency of tejal Hasabnis, the only other batter among India’s reserves, signals a willingness to embrace a more aggressive approach in the knockout stages of the tournament.
