Shafali Verma’s rollercoaster journey has taken a dramatic turn: the 21-year-old Haryana blaster has been officially approved by the ICC Event Technical Committee as Pratika Rawal’s replacement for India’s Women’s World Cup semifinal against Australia on Thursday at DY Patil Stadium. Sidelined from ODIs for over a year, Shafali—captaining Haryana in Surat’s senior T20 knockouts—was summoned to Mumbai on Tuesday, cutting short her domestic campaign after rain washed out her match.

The call-up is a reward for relentless domestic carnage: 527 ODI runs at 152.31 strike rate with two centuries, followed by 414 runs in five Challenger matches at 145.26 SR. In the WPL, she smashed 304 runs to propel Delhi Capitals to a third straight final. Her T20I form screams danger—341 runs in seven innings at 182.35 SR. “I’m focusing on building innings, rotating strike, and winning games for India,” Shafali declared in January, a promise now under the global spotlight.

For the Verma family, the moment is redemption. Shafali shielded her father Sanjeev—recovering from a heart attack and stent procedure—from news of her axing post the 2024 T20 World Cup debacle. “Play your best; selectors are watching,” he advised. Now, with a sell-out crowd roaring, Shafali faces Australia’s lethal attack—Schutt, Garth, King, Molineux—in a repeat of the 2017 final. The defending champions have lost just six ODIs since, only two to India.

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New selection panel chief Amita Sharma has thrown faith behind the fearless opener. Sanjeev’s prayer is simple: “Keep the World Cup in India.” With 72 hours to destiny, Shafali stands poised to either explode or be tamed—her bat could script history or haunt dreams. The stage is set for a blockbuster.

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