Jemimah Rodrigues lauding Shafali Verma (Source: AP Photos)
Shafali Verma made her highest individual ODI score on Sunday during India’s all-important World Cup final against South Africa, taking place at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai. The 21-year-old smashed seven fours and two sixes in an entertaining 78-ball 87 before falling to Ayabonga Khaka during the 28th over of India's innings.
Having been invited to bat first, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma made an impressive 104-run stand – India's highest partnership for any wicket in a World Cup final – to give them a solid start. While Smriti Mandhana lost her wicket after a well-made 58-ball 45, Shafali kept on going along with Jemimah Rodrigues.
Records broken by Shafali Verma in historic World Cup final
Unsurprisingly, Shafali made many records while slamming South Africa bowlers in left, right and centre, and no wonder she became the talk of the town after a no-one-saw-it-coming India call-up via Pratika Rawal injury.
Youngest players to score 50s in Women's World Cup Finals:
21y 278d – Shafali Verma (India) vs South Africa, 2025*
23y 235d – Jess Duffin (Australia) vs West Indies, 2013
24y 337d – Nat Sciver-Brunt (England) vs India, 2017
Highest Individual Score for India as Openers in World Cup Finals (Men & Women):
87 - Shafali Verma vs South Africa, DY Patil, 2025* (Women)
86 - Punam Raut vs England, Lord’s, 2017 (Women)
82 - Virender Sehwag vs Australia, Johannesburg, 2003 (Men)
Notably, Shafali’s previous best ODI score was 71 not out, which came in Pallekele against Sri Lanka back in 2022.
India, at the time of writing this, are 173/3 in 30.4 overs, with Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma in the middle, on 4* and 2* respectively. For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka and Chloe Lesleigh Tryon were among the wickets, while Marizanne Kapp is yet to have success with the ball.
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