Shafali Verma named in India playing XI for Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal against Australia
Opener Shafali Verma was on Thursday named in India’s playing XI for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal against Australia at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
The 21-year-old returns to the ODI setup after nearly a year. Her last appearance came against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on October 29, 2024.
Shafali was drafted into India’s World Cup squad as a replacement for Pratika Rawal, who was injured during the Women in Blue’s final league match against Bangladesh a few days ago.
Back in the mix after a strong domestic run, Shafali said on Wednesday that she feels confident and ready if given an opportunity. Having featured in several high-pressure games before, she believes experience will help her handle the semifinal stage calmly. “It’s all about keeping my mind clear and trusting myself. I’ve been in such situations earlier, so I’ll just stay calm and back my game.”
Shafali has scored 644 runs from 29 ODIs at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 83.20.
Published on Oct 30, 2025
