UPDATE: In an electrifying moment for women’s cricket, former Australia captain Meg Lanning has praised India’s World Cup-winning duo, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, for their historic performances in the Women’s World Cup 2025. This recognition comes less than 24 hours after India clinched victory against South Africa in the finals held in New Delhi on November 8, 2025.
Shafali, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement due to an injury to regular opener Pratika Rawal, made an immediate impact with a stunning 87 runs in the final. Her explosive batting was complemented by two crucial wickets that halted South Africa’s chase, demonstrating her all-around skills on the biggest stage.
Lanning highlighted Shafali’s fearless approach, stating,
“I wasn’t surprised by the way she played at all. She has been successful over a few years now, playing an aggressive style of cricket.”
Lanning noted that Shafali’s ability to target the side screen and play with a vertical bat made her performance hard to counter.
Meanwhile, Rodrigues also shone brightly throughout the tournament, ending as India’s third-highest run-scorer with 292 runs in just eight innings. Her standout moment came when she scored a brilliant 127 not out against Australia in the semi-finals, leading India to a record chase against the top-ranked team.
“Seeing Jemimah perform under pressure was really impressive,” Lanning remarked.
“She took responsibility and made sure she was there at the end, guiding her team home.”
This ability to deliver in high-stakes situations underscores Rodrigues’ exceptional talent and poise.
India’s victory marks a monumental achievement in women’s cricket, further elevating the profiles of Shafali and Rodrigues on a global scale. As the cricketing world reflects on this historic tournament, fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how these two stars evolve in their careers moving forward.
What’s next for India? The cricketing community will closely watch the upcoming series and tournaments to see how the team builds on this success. With both Shafali and Jemimah at the forefront, India promises to be a formidable force in women’s cricket for years to come.
Stay tuned for more updates as we cover the continuing impact of this landmark victory!
