Pratika Rawal praised Shafali Verma for her standout performance in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final against South Africa. Interestingly, Shafali was not initially part of India’s World Cup squad or reserve list. She entered the team as a replacement after Pratika suffered an ankle and calf injury during a match against Bangladesh.
Thrown into the semifinal against Australia, Shafali only managed 10 runs before being dismissed by Kim Garth. However, she excelled in the final, delivering an exceptional all-around performance. Shafali’s fluent 87 runs and crucial wickets of Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp led India to a 52-run victory, securing their first World Cup title.
Pratika, who had replaced Shafali during her ODI debut last year, expressed her deep admiration for the young batter. She recalled being impressed by Shafali’s century against her domestic team early in Shafali’s career.
Discussing her partnership with Smriti Mandhana, Pratika emphasized their strong on-field chemistry. She highlighted their ability to play together without interfering in each other’s game, attributing their successful partnership to mutual trust and understanding.
Pratika had a remarkable tournament, scoring 308 runs in seven matches with an average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 77.77. Her standout performance came against New Zealand, where she scored an impressive 122 runs, helping India recover after consecutive losses to South Africa, England, and Australia.
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