Shafali Verma Named ICC Women’s Player of the Month After Match-Winning World Cup Final Heroics
India’s Shafali Verma has been named the ‘ICC Women’s Player of the Month’ for November, following her decisive, match-winning performance in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final against South Africa. Her commanding all-round display—anchored by a fluent half-century and key breakthroughs with the ball—proved central to India’s maiden World Cup triumph.
Drafted into the squad as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, the 21-year-old rose to the occasion on the biggest stage. Opening the batting, Shafali struck a fluent 87 off 78 balls, the highest score by an Indian opener in a Women’s World Cup final, according to the ICC.
Her aggressive intent at the top, combined with a record 100-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, laid the foundation for India’s imposing total of 298/7 in the title clash.
Shafali’s influence extended beyond the bat. With the ball, she delivered timely breakthroughs, dismissing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp in successive overs to derail South Africa’s chase. She finished with impressive figures of 2 for 36 from seven overs, tightening India’s grip on the contest.
Reflecting on the achievement, Verma said her first World Cup experience had come full circle. “My first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup didn’t go as I expected, but it ended far better than I could have imagined,” she said, dedicating the award to her teammates, coaches, family and supporters.
2025 In Review
12 Dec 2025 - Vol 04 | Issue 51
Words and scenes in retrospect
Her all-round brilliance in the final earned her the Player of the Match award and sealed India’s historic maiden Women’s World Cup title, making them only the fourth team to lift the trophy.
The honour also caps a remarkable personal comeback. Earlier dropped from India’s ODI setup, Shafali returned to domestic cricket to rebuild her form before earning a dramatic World Cup recall. Her performances in November underlined not just her resurgence, but her growing big-match temperament—cementing her place at the heart of India’s most significant moment in women’s cricket.