Star opener shines bright in India's historic World Cup victory.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has bestowed the prestigious Player of the Month honor for November upon Indian opener Shafali Verma. This accolade serves as the perfect cherry on top of a historic month, recognizing her instrumental role in guiding the 'Women in Blue' to their very first ICC Women's Cricket World Cup triumph.
The 21-year-old’s journey to this moment was nothing short of cinematic. Originally not part of the starting lineup, Verma was drafted into the squad as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal. Seizing the opportunity with both hands, she produced a performance for the ages on the grandest stage of them all. In the high-stakes final against South Africa, Verma hammered a blistering 87 runs off just 78 deliveries. According to ICC records, this stands as the highest individual score ever recorded by an Indian opener in a World Cup final.
Her aggression at the top of the order was a game-changer. Verma combined forces with Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana to stitch together a record-breaking 100-run opening partnership. This solid foundation allowed India to post an imposing total of 298/7, putting immense pressure on the Proteas.
However, Verma’s contribution wasn't limited to her batting exploits. She proved to be the golden arm for India with the ball as well. During South Africa's chase, she bowled a disciplined spell of seven overs, conceding only 36 runs. More importantly, she broke the back of the opposition's batting lineup by dismissing key players Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp in consecutive overs.
Reflecting on her whirlwind journey, Verma admitted that while the tournament didn't start the way she expected, the ending was beyond her wildest dreams.
"I’m grateful that I could contribute to the team’s success in the Final and that I was able to be a part of making history," Verma said. She humbly dedicated the award to her support system, adding, "I dedicate this award to my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who has supported my journey until now. We win and lose as a team."
This award marks a significant redemption arc for the young star. After being dropped from the ODI squad earlier, she worked hard in domestic cricket to regain her form. Her "Player of the Match" performance in the final has now firmly established her reputation as a big-match player, helping India become only the fourth nation in history to lift the Women's World Cup trophy.
