The Indian women's cricket team has received a significant boost ahead of their crucial Women's ODI World Cup 2025 semi-final clash against Australia, while the match, scheduled to be played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, will see the return of star opener Shafali Verma to the ODI squad after a hiatus of 366 days. Her comeback comes as a replacement for the injured opening batter Pratika Rawal, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
A Year-Long Wait for an ODI Return
Shafali Verma last played an ODI for India on October 29, 2024, against New Zealand, while since then, she has been consistently out of the Indian squad and wasn't initially included in the World Cup contingent. Her return at such a critical juncture, especially for a high-stakes semi-final, underscores the team management's faith in her abilities. Verma's aggressive batting style is expected to provide India with a much-needed strong start in the powerplay, a crucial factor against a formidable team like Australia. Her absence has seen the team experiment with various opening combinations,. But the void of a consistent, aggressive opener was often felt.
Emotional Reaction to Pratika Rawal's Injury and Her Own Comeback
Upon her inclusion in India's World Cup squad, Shafali Verma made an emotional statement. She conveyed her deep sadness over Pratika Rawal's injury, stating that it's unfortunate for any player to suffer such a setback. However, Verma described her own return as 'God's grace,' emphasizing that despite not being on the official reserve players' list, she managed to secure a spot in the Indian team before the semi-final against Australia, while she believes that a higher power has sent her to achieve something significant for the team.
Riding on Domestic Form and Mental Preparedness
In a pre-semi-final press conference, Shafali Verma also highlighted her recent form in domestic cricket, while before joining the World Cup squad, she was captaining Haryana in the National Women's T20 and was in excellent rhythm. She stated, 'Regarding the semi-final, it's not new for me as I've played semi-finals before. ' She stressed the importance of mental concentration in big matches, affirming her readiness for the challenge, while verma is confident that her current form and past experience in high-pressure games will enable her to perform well in this pivotal encounter.
Warm Welcome and Encouragement from the Team
Verma also shared her experience of rejoining the team, while she mentioned that everyone welcomed her with open arms, which was a heartwarming experience. She added that all the players she spoke with boosted her morale, while coaches, the captain, and even Smriti Didi (Smriti Mandhana) advised her to play her natural game. This collective support from the team management and players reflects their trust in. Shafali's capabilities and their efforts to keep her mentally strong for the upcoming challenge.
The Challenge Against Australia and Shafali's Role
It remains to be seen how Shafali performs in the semi-final against Australia. The Australian women's team is known for its strength and experience, and scoring runs against them is always a challenge, while shafali has played 29 ODIs in her career, accumulating 644 runs. Her aggressive batting and ability to hit big shots can. Provide India with a strong start, potentially changing the game's momentum. The Indian team will be hoping that her return proves to be a lucky charm, propelling them to secure a spot in the final.
