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As if breaking multiple records with the bat weren’t enough, Shafali Verma made the 2025 Women’s World Cup final against South Africa even more special by taking two wickets with the ball in the second innings. The Indian opening batter, who top-scored for her team with 87 in the first innings, got rid of Sune Luus and her Delhi Capitals teammate Marizanne Kapp in two overs — only her second and third ODI wickets ever. This was only the sixth time Shafali took the ball and showed off her off-spin in the format. Luus got caught-and-bowled on only Shafali’s second ball of the match, chipping a push straight back at the bowler on an innocuous-looking straight delivery with slight turn. Replays showed that Shafali had bowled it from the front of her end — close to a carrom ball, but not quite. It broke a partnership of 52 (51) between Laura Wolvaardt and Luus, and the reaction from her captain, Harmanpreet Kaur — who ran to all but jump on the youngster — told the story without words. Her wicket of Kapp was different. She looped the ball up around the off-stump and made it turn big on the Proteas legend, who feathered it behind for a sharp take from wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh. Watch the first wicket here: 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 There aren’t many more incredible individual stories in world cricket. Until a week ago, Shafali was not in India’s World Cup squad — heck, she wasn’t even in the reserves. She got called up because Pratika Rawal, who was doing quite well with the bat, got injured while fielding in a rain-spoiled match. When she didn’t fire against Australia, Shafali was trolled badly, like she has always been in her career. But come here, she became the youngest player, male or female, to score a fifty in a World Cup final. Then, she put up the highest-ever score for an Indian opener in the biggest match of her life. Then, she took two wickets when her side were just starting to worry in the defense of a slightly sub-par target. Irrespective of the result of the match, it would be hard to get Shafali out of the team now.
