The selectors and team management had run out of patience with Shafali Verma around this time last year. She was dropped from India's one-day plans after struggling to adjust to the rhythm of the format. In place of the inconsistent aggressor at the top, India opted for the composure of a patient accumulator in Pratika Rawal.
Cut to October 2025 – Shafali Verma is back in the World Cup squad, and in one of the most unlikely of circumstances. Pratika had cemented her place at the top with consistent performances, enhancing her reputation in the World Cup with a superb hundred in a must-win clash against New Zealand last week in Navi Mumbai. There were murmurs about her ability to rotate strike consistently, but she had silenced her critics with sheer dependability.
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