The ICC has granted India’s plea to include Shafali Verma in the team as a substitute for Pratika Rawal on October 27th. Pratika had to exit the tournament due to an ankle and knee injury sustained while fielding in the match against Bangladesh. Shafali’s last ODI appearance for India dates back to October 2024.
During the incident, Pratika, who had scored a notable century against New Zealand, was injured while trying to field at the boundary. Consequently, she had to be carried off the field. Subsequently, Amanjot Kaur replaced her as the opener alongside Smriti Mandhana during the Bangladesh game that was ultimately rained out.
On Monday, reports confirmed Pratika’s tournament exit due to the injury. The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Event Technical Committee approved Shafali Verma as Rawal’s replacement in the Indian squad. The committee comprises Wasim Khan, Gaurav Saxena, Abey Kuruvilla, and Mel Jones.
Shafali is making a comeback after being overlooked twice for the World Cup squad, despite her aggressive batting style. She showcased her prowess by scoring 70 runs off 49 balls against New Zealand for India A and currently leads the run charts in the ongoing Senior Women’s T20 Trophy with 341 runs in nine matches at an average of 56.83 and a strike rate of 182.
Despite having Uma Chetry as an option, India opted for the experienced Shafali for the semi-final clash against Australia on October 30th.