India captain Harmanpreet Kaur shared that the swift decision to replace the injured Pratika Rawal with Shafali Verma during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup was made in a brief 30-second meeting, supported by the team and the board. Pratika’s ankle injury in a game against Bangladesh led to her exclusion from the knockout rounds. Shafali’s remarkable performance in the final against South Africa, scoring 87 runs and taking two wickets, secured India’s first ODI World Cup victory on home turf.
The unanimous choice for Shafali’s inclusion was evident after confirming Pratika’s unavailability. The decision was made swiftly in a short meeting where everyone backed Shafali. Head coach Amol Muzumdar expressed his distress over Pratika’s injury, emphasizing the emotional turmoil he experienced. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana highlighted Shafali’s crucial international experience and her role as an opener with an X-factor in high-stakes matches.
Shafali Verma, initially left out of the main squad due to inconsistent ODI performances, acknowledged the disappointment of missing the World Cup selection. However, she embraced the opportunity, focusing on her game and working harder to prove herself. Her late call-up for the World Cup, while she was with the Haryana team, caught her by surprise but motivated her to mentally prepare for the semi-final after a year away from the team.
