Rohtak’s Shafali clinches Women’s World Cup final:Puts on all-round show with 87 runs and 2 wickets, won POTM; Tendulkar inspired to pick up the sport

In the final of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, India created history by defeating South Africa by 52 runs. This is the first time the Indian women’s cricket team has won the ODI World Cup. Shafali Verma, a resident of Rohtak, played a crucial role in this historic victory. She played the highest knock of 87 runs for India while scalping 2 wickets. For her excellent performance, she was chosen as the Player of the Match. She thanked her family and brother for supporting and motivating her in the game. Shafali Verma could not play in all the initial matches of the Women’s World Cup, but after Pratika Rawal’s sudden exit, she was included in the team against Australia in the semi-final match. In this match, Shafali could only score 10 runs. Shafali was inspired to play cricket after seeing Sachin Tendulkar in Rohtak. When she saw Sachin batting at Lahli Stadium and heard the crowd chanting ‘Sachin-Sachin’, she decided to become a cricketer. Her father, Sanjeev Verma, also made every possible effort to fulfil his daughter’s dream. He tried to get Shafali admitted to a cricket academy in Rohtak, but she did not get admission because she was a girl. After this, her father cut Shafali’s hair like a boy’s and started teaching her cricket himself. In 2019, at the age of just 15, Shafali made her international match debut. In 2023, under Shafali’s captaincy, India’s Under-19 team won the Women’s World Cup. Mother says – ‘Daughter’s innings is no less than a century’ Shafali’s mother, Praveen Bala, said of her daughter’s performance, “My daughter scored 87 runs. I am very happy about it. I have no regret that my daughter did not complete a century. This innings of Shafali is no less than a century. When Shafali was playing shots, we clapped and celebrated.” Meanwhile, Shafali Verma’s coach Bijender Sharma said, “I am very happy with her scoring 87 runs. I have always encouraged Shefali to play her natural game. Shafali gave a good start to the Indian team and relieved the team from pressure.” Now, let’s find out who Shafali Verma is and how she became a cricketer… Pursued graduation from MDU, Rohtak Shafali Verma was born on January 28, 2004, in Rohtak. She started her education at St. Paul’s School, but she failed in 10th grade. After this, she enrolled in Mandeep Senior Secondary School and passed 10th grade with 52% marks. In 12th grade, she scored 80% marks. Currently, she is pursuing her graduation from Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak. Decided to become a cricketer after witnessing Sachin Tendulkar In 2013, Shafali Verma went to watch a Ranji Trophy match at Lahli Ground in Rohtak. Here, Sachin Tendulkar came to bat. When the crowd started chanting ‘Sachin-Sachin’, Shafali decided to become a cricketer. When Shafali’s father Sanjeev, saw her passion for cricket, he started training her at home. Didn’t get admission in the academy, father got a boy cut Her father tried to get Shafali admitted to a cricket academy, but she didn’t get admission because she was a girl. After this, her father got Shafali’s hair cut short like a boy. Later, Shafali’s school itself decided to form a cricket team for girls. At the age of 12, Shafali started playing professionally in the academy. Debuted in an international match at the age of 15 At the age of 15, even before the 2019 T20I World Cup, Shafali Verma secured a place in Team India and debuted in an international match against South Africa. Shafali also scored her first century against the West Indies. She became the first Indian woman cricketer to do so and broke Sachin Tendulkar’s 30-year-old record. In June 2021, Shafali Verma became the youngest Indian player to play in all three formats of international cricket (Test, ODI, and T20I). In 2023, under Shafali’s captaincy, India’s U19 team won the World Cup.