Shefali Verma’s story reads like a cricketing fairy tale, blending prodigious talent with clutch performances. Emerging from Rohtak on January 28, 2004, in a family steeped in cricket fervor—father Sanjeev’s dreams deferred to nurture his trio of players—she emulated Sachin Tendulkar obsessively.
Debuting at 15 years, 239 days in T20Is, she rewrote history by beating Sachin’s record, becoming the youngest Indian across formats. Her aggressive flair made her indispensable. A pre-2025 World Cup slump led to omission, Pratika Rawal filling the opener’s role beside Smriti Mandhana.
Turning point: Rawal’s semifinal injury recall thrust Shefali into the spotlight. Post a quiet semi, the final on November 2 against South Africa became legendary. Her 87 off 78 balls, laced with audacious strokes, built India’s winning platform. Bowling unexpectedly, 2 wickets for 36 runs earned her Player of the Match, crowning India champions for the first time in Women’s ODIs.
Career highlights dazzle: 5 Tests, 567 runs (205 high, 1 ton, 3 fifties); 31 ODIs, 741 runs (5 fifties); 95 T20Is, 2,462 runs (14 fifties). Only 22, Shefali’s future gleams with potential records, inspiring a new era in women’s cricket.