Shafali Verma delivered a sensational performance in the quarter-final of the Senior Women's One-Day Trophy, smashing 197 off just 115 balls for Haryana against Bengal in Rajkot. Her innings included 22 fours and 11 sixes, propelling Haryana to 389 for 5.
However, Bengal pulled off a historic chase, achieving 392 for 5 with five wickets and five balls to spare—setting a new record for the highest successful chase in women’s List A cricket. The previous record was 309 by Northern Districts against Canterbury in 2019.
Bengal's batting lineup contributed collectively to this feat. Openers Dhara Gujjar (69 off 49) and Sasthi Mondal (52 off 29) laid a solid foundation with a 100-run partnership in just 9.1 overs. Tanusree Sarkar led the charge with a brilliant 113 off 83 balls before Priyanka Bala sealed the win with an unbeaten 88 off 81 balls. Sarkar also starred with the ball, taking 3 for 56.
For Shafali, this was her second century of the tournament, having started with a 98-ball 139 against Uttar Pradesh. In seven innings, she accumulated 527 runs at an average of 75.28 and an astounding strike rate of 152.31.
Despite her phenomenal domestic performances, Shafali has been excluded from India’s white-ball squads. She was dropped from the ODI series in Australia earlier this year after scoring only 108 runs in six matches at an average of 18. Her struggles continued during the T20 World Cup, where she managed just 97 runs in four innings, and in the home ODIs against New Zealand, where she scored 56 runs across three innings.
Shafali’s absence has left a void in India’s opening lineup. During the Australia tour, India experimented with Priya Punia and Richa Ghosh, with limited success. Against West Indies, Delhi’s Pratika Rawal opened alongside Smriti Mandhana and scored a steady 40 in a 110-run opening stand, helping India secure a dominant win.
Harmanpreet Kaur, when asked about Shafali’s exclusion and other missing senior players, deflected the question to the selection committee. However, just weeks earlier, she acknowledged Shafali’s importance to the team, saying, “She is a very important player for us and has done exceptionally well for the country. We look forward to seeing her get back into her zone and perform well for the team.”
Shafali’s current form, combined with India's struggles to find a stable opening partner for Mandhana, raises questions about her prolonged absence from the national squad.
Updated on 23rd December, 2024 by MyFortune11 Team