In a twist no one saw coming—not even her teammates—Shafali Verma went from explosive opener to match-turning bowler in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final. And South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, was left stunned. “Shafali’s bowling was the surprise factor,” Wolvaardt admitted after her team’s 52-run loss to India, despite her own brilliant century. “It’s frustrating that we gave her two big wickets.”
With South Africa cruising at 127/2 in the 28th over—Wolvaardt unbeaten on 89 and looking unstoppable—India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur did something radical. She tossed the ball to Shafali Verma, the 21-year-old known for six-hitting, not spin.
Shafali, who had bowled just 11 overs in her entire ODI career before the final, delivered a tidy off-spin over. First ball: Wolvaardt’s key partner Sune Luus edged to slip. Fourth ball: Marizanne Kapp, the finisher, was stumped trying to sweep. Two wickets. Game shifted.
Post-match, Harmanpreet revealed it wasn’t pre-planned. “I just had a gut feeling,” she said. “Shafali bowls in the nets sometimes, and I saw her turn it sharply today during warm-ups. I thought, ‘Why not?’ Sometimes, cricket isn’t just stats—it’s instinct.”
That instinct, backed by trust in a young player, became the turning point of India’s historic maiden World Cup win.
Laura Wolvaardt’s 113 off 122 balls was a masterclass in pressure batting—the first century by a South African captain in a Women’s World Cup final. Yet, it ended in despair. “We were in control,” she said, voice heavy. “Then Shafali came on… and we lost two set batters in four balls. That’s hard to recover from.”
Her frustration wasn’t at Shafali’s skill—it was at her own team’s lapse. “We knew she could bowl a bit, but we treated her like a part-timer. That cost us.”
Few knew Shafali had been quietly working on her off-spin during WPL 2024 under coach VVS Laxman’s guidance. “He told me, ‘Every great all-rounder starts with one over,’” she smiled in the press conference. “I never thought it’d be in a World Cup final!”
Her figures? 1 over, 0 runs, 2 wickets. Economy: 0.00. Impact: priceless.
Shafali’s cameo with the ball reflects a larger trend: the blurring of traditional roles. In an era where part-timers like Glenn Maxwell or Hardik Pandya win games with rare overs, India has now added a new name to that list—a young woman who can smash a six and spin a wicket in the same innings.
For young girls watching, the message is clear: don’t box yourself in. Be bold. Be versatile. Be ready for your moment—even if it comes with a ball instead of a bat.
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