Team India opener Shafali Verma made an instant impact with the ball after top-scoring in the first innings of the Women’s World Cup 2025 Final against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2. The part-time spinner struck twice in quick succession, removing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp during the middle overs of the high-stakes contest.
Included in the squad as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, Shafali played a crucial role in helping India post 298 after being asked to bat first, smashing a brilliant 87 off 78 balls. Continuing her heroics in the second innings, she turned the game India’s way with a surprise bowling spell.
Introduced into the attack in the 21st over when South Africa were rebuilding through Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus, captain Harmanpreet Kaur opted for Shafali as both Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma were proving expensive. The move paid off immediately — Luus mistimed a shot across the line and ended up offering a simple return catch to the bowler.
In her next over, Shafali Verma struck again, dismissing Marizanne Kapp with her very first ball. A delivery drifting down the leg side took a faint edge off Kapp’s bat, and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh completed a sharp catch behind the stumps. It was a game-changing double strike that firmly tilted the momentum in India’s favour.
What a moment! 😍🤩👌🏻#HarmanpreetKaur introduced #ShafaliVerma into bowling & she gets the wicket of Luus! 🫡👏🏻#CWC25 Final 👉 #INDvSA, LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/gGh9yFhTix pic.twitter.com/8rsuBlFd78
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 2, 2025
A quick pick-up and a 🎯
Elation all around as #AmanjotKaur’s direct-hit provides the breakthrough Team India needed! #TanzimBritts makes her way back! 💥#CWC25 Final 👉 #INDvSA, LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/gGh9yFhTix pic.twitter.com/EP9eYuZ2zi
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 2, 2025
South Africa’s innings stumbled from 114/2 to 123/4 after Shafali Verma’s unexpected double breakthrough turned the game in India’s favor.
Shafali Verma Doubles Her Career ODI Wickets with Stunning Spell in World Cup 2025 Final
The young all-rounder has occasionally contributed with the ball across different formats in international cricket. Before the World Cup final, she had a total of 12 wickets to her name, though only one had come in ODIs. In the 50-over format, Verma had bowled 14 overs at an economy rate of 5.42 and an average of 74.
Her most recent bowling appearances came in India A’s unofficial Test against Australia A in August and the fifth T20I against England in Birmingham, both outings where she went wicketless.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.