Shafali Varma Shines in ICC Women's World Cup Final, Hailed by Nasser Hussain

In a thrilling ICC Women's World Cup final, Shafali Varma's exceptional performance has drawn accolades from former England captain Nasser Hussain. Scoring a record-breaking 87 runs and taking two crucial wickets, Shafali's return to the team proved pivotal for India's victory over South Africa. Hussain highlighted her journey and the significance of her selection, calling it a gamble that paid off. With this win, he believes Indian women's cricket is awakening as a formidable force in the sport. Discover more about Shafali's journey and the match highlights in this detailed article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 3, 2025, 21:33 IST

Shafali Varma's Stellar Performance

Former England captain Nasser Hussain praised Shafali Varma's impressive comeback to India's ICC Women's World Cup-winning squad, highlighting her all-around performance in the final. He noted that the selection gamble paid off for Team India.

Shafali fulfilled her promise made during the press conference before the semifinals against Australia, showcasing her talent in the final against South Africa. She scored a record-breaking 87 runs, the highest by an Indian woman in a World Cup final, and followed it up with a commendable bowling performance of 2 wickets for 36 runs, including the crucial wicket of seasoned all-rounder Marizanne Kapp.

A Remarkable Turnaround

Shafali's journey has been remarkable, especially considering her last ODI appearance was in October before her return for the semifinals against Australia. Although she had a solid T20I record with 176 runs in five innings and a successful Women's Premier League season with Delhi Capitals, her ODI average in the early 20s and inconsistency at critical moments led to her exclusion from the ODI squad. Pratika Rawal, who averaged over 50 in ODIs and was India's second-best performer in the tournament with 308 runs, was seen as a significant upgrade. However, Shafali's explosive batting and unexpected bowling skills proved decisive against the Proteas.

Hussain's Insights on Shafali's Selection

In comments reported by a media outlet, Hussain reflected on Shafali's evolution as a powerful T20I batter with a carefree approach at just 15 years old. However, he noted that her struggles with short balls in ODIs led to her being replaced by the more consistent Pratika Rawal, who has accumulated 1,110 runs in 23 innings.

"She started her career in an incredible way, bursting onto the scene with a carefree attitude typical of youth," Hussain remarked. "However, she faced challenges, particularly with short balls, which led to her exclusion from the ODI format."

"When Pratika was injured, bringing Shafali back for the semifinals and finals felt like a gamble, but she excelled. Her batting was exceptional, and it was a stroke of genius to utilize her as a bowler. Her performance was outstanding, making her selection a brilliant decision," he concluded.

The Awakening of Indian Women's Cricket

Hussain expressed that having a new World Cup champion is beneficial for the sport, emphasizing that the 'sleeping giant' of Indian women's cricket is now awake.

"Historically, Women's World Cups have featured either England or Australia, so it's refreshing to see a new winner emerge," he stated. "The potential of Indian women's cricket is immense, and they could become an unstoppable force in the future."

Final Match Highlights

In the final, India batted first after being put in by South Africa, scoring 298 runs for 7 wickets. This was bolstered by a century partnership between Smriti Mandhana (45) and Shafali (87), along with late contributions from Richa Ghosh (34) and Deepti Sharma (58). Despite a brilliant century from South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt (101), India managed to dismiss the Proteas for 246 runs, thanks to Shafali's surprising bowling and Deepti Sharma's impressive five-wicket haul (5/39).

Shafali was awarded the 'Player of the Match' for her outstanding performance.