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Shafali Verma and Pratika Rawal (Source: AFP)
In a recent development, opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2025 due to a injury. The 25-year-old sustained the setback just before India’s semifinal against Australia, scheduled for October 30 in Navi Mumbai.
The BCCI selection committee has named Shafali Verma as Rawal’s replacement. It is important to note that Shafali was neither part of the original 15-member squad nor the reserves. The selectors, however, chose her due to her reputation and experience.
Now, having said all this, in this article, let's take a look at Shafali Verma's stats and see if she can justify this call taken by the selectors.
Rawal’s injury a massive blow for India
It would not be wrong to say that Pratika Rawal's injury will be massive blow for India. She has been India’s second-highest run-scorer in the World Cup as of the league stage and one of the most consistent performers at the top. Her injury leaves a huge gap in India’s top order, especially considering her strong partnerships with Smriti Mandhana.
| Innings | Runs | Average | SR |
| 6 | 308 | 51.33 | 77.77 |
(Pratika Rawal's stats in ODI World Cup 2025)
| Matches | Runs | Average | SR |
| 23 | 1110 | 50.45 | 82.83 |
(Pratika Rawal's stats in ODI)
Why Shafali Verma Was Chosen
It can be said that selectors have considered Shafali Verma for her aggression and power-hitting ability. Shafali offers the ability to dominate the powerplay. The skill that could be crucial in the high-pressure semifinal against Australia.
However, taking a look at Shafali Verma's ODI stats, it can be said that Shafali has not replicated her T20 and Test performance in ODIs. Her average is only 23 in the format.
| Matches | Runs | Average | SR |
| 29 | 644 | 23.00 | 83.20 |
(Shafali Verma's stats in ODI)
But selectors might have backed the young player because of her domestic performance. Playing for Haryana in December 2024, Shafali scored 527 runs at an average of 75.28 and a strike rate of 152.31 in the domestic one-dayers.
It is also vital to mention that she has not played for India in ODIs since October 2024, but was part of the India A in the 50-overs format.
India’s Top-Order scenario
Now, the next thing is with Rawal being ruled out, India now has a tough decision to take, i.e, should they give Shafali a direct place in the playing XI for the semifinal, or should they reshuffle the lineup by promoting Harleen Deol or Jemimah Rodrigues to open with Smriti Mandhana?
It can be said that Shafali’s aggressive style might complement Mandhana’s timing and stability, offering India early momentum against Australia. However, one thing that can't be ignored is Shafali's long absence from the ODI setup, which makes her inclusion a gamble.
Conclusion
Shafali Verma’s selection is both bold and interesting. While she has struggled for consistency in WODIs, her current form, aggressive intent, and big-match temperament make her a logical replacement.
With Pratika Rawal ruled out, India facing Australia in the semifinals and India's middle order struggling for consistency, it will be interesting to see if, given a chance in the playing XI, can Shafali Verma make use of this opportunity when it matters the most and play according to the requirement of the game balancing her aggressive game play alongside maturity and responsibility.
