Shafali Verma responded in emphatic fashion to her omission from India’s Women’s World Cup squad, smashing a blistering 70 off 49 balls for India A in a warm-up match against New Zealand. The young opener, widely regarded as one of the most destructive batters in women’s cricket, looked determined to make a statement, and she did so with an innings full of aggression, timing, and authority.
Chasing a target of 274, India A had an early setback when opener Vrinda Dinesh fell cheaply. Shafali, however, was unfazed and immediately went on the attack. She dispatched the new ball bowlers with a mix of clean hitting down the ground and fierce cuts through the off-side. Her knock featured 11 boundaries and a towering six, and she maintained a strike rate well over 140 for most of her stay at the crease.
What stood out was the balance she showed between aggression and control. While she capitalized on width and anything short, she was also watchful when the bowlers found good areas, rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard ticking. This allowed her partners to settle and eased the pressure on the middle order.
By the time Shafali was dismissed in the 19th over, India A were 116 for 2 and firmly in control of the chase. Her wicket triggered a mini-collapse as India A slipped to 121 for 6, but her innings had done enough to keep them ahead of the game. Later, Mamatha Madiwala and Minnu Mani combined for a gritty partnership that guided India A past the DLS par score, sealing a morale-boosting victory with overs to spare before rain ended the match.
The significance of this innings goes beyond the result. Shafali’s exclusion from the World Cup squad was one of the most debated selection calls of the season. Many felt her aggressive approach at the top of the order was precisely what India would need in a high-pressure tournament. Her response, delivered on the field with the bat rather than through words, was a timely reminder of her value to the national setup.
This performance also highlights her continued development as a cricketer. In domestic one-day competitions earlier this year, she topped the run charts and demonstrated improved consistency. Her warm-up knock reinforced the view that she is not just a power hitter but also a player capable of building substantial innings under pressure.
Selectors will now face renewed calls to consider her for future series, especially with India looking to strengthen their top order for the next cycle of ICC tournaments. For Shafali, this innings is likely to be the perfect confidence boost, reminding herself and everyone watching that she remains a match-winner in any format.
India A’s victory over a strong New Zealand side will also please the team management, as it showed depth in the squad and resilience after losing quick wickets. But the headline from the match was clear: Shafali Verma is still very much a force to be reckoned with.
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