Shafali Verma plays the best knock of her career in World Cup final: 'History will remember this GOATed inning'

Shafali Verma produced one of the finest innings of her career as India took on South Africa in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. The young opener, who was making a comeback to the Indian team, scored a brilliant half-century that set the tone for India’s innings on the big stage.

Shafali was not part of the original squad for the tournament but got her chance when she was called up as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal ahead of the semifinal against Australia. After a short stay at the crease in that match, the 21-year-old made full use of her opportunity in the final, showing her trademark fearless batting.

Opening the innings alongside Smriti Mandhana, Shafali went on the attack from the very first ball, smashing a boundary to announce her intent. She continued to play her shots all around the ground, timing the ball beautifully and taking on South Africa’s pacers and spinners alike. Her fifty came off just 49 balls when she took a single off Chloe Tryon in the 18th over.

Fans laud Shafali’s ‘clutch’ innings

At 21 years and 278 days, Shafali became the youngest player ever, male or female, to score a fifty in an ODI World Cup final. Social media erupted in praise for Shafali’s fearless knock. “History will remember this GOATed inning,” one fan wrote on X, while another said, “Big players rise in big moments.”