New Delhi, November 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India all-rounder Shafali Verma has recalled how her unexpected return to the national team during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 came while she was representing Haryana in a domestic competition, saying the selection was a reward for a year of hard work on her game.
The right-handed batter said she was not closely following the World Cup at the time, having deliberately stayed away from social media and concentrated on improving her performances in domestic cricket.
Shafali was drafted into India’s squad midway through the tournament for the remaining matches. She said the news came as a complete surprise when the national team manager called her during a state-level match.
“I couldn’t believe it, as I had been away from social media and wasn’t even following the tournament, having focused entirely on my own game,” she told JioStar.
The call-up was especially satisfying because it followed an extended period of working on her game away from the national setup.
“I felt all the hard work I had put in over the past year was finally paying off,” Shafali said.
She added that the team welcomed her warmly and that two or three net sessions were enough to help her adapt to the conditions and regain her rhythm.
Shafali also credited her domestic cricket performances for giving her the confidence to return to the international environment without feeling overwhelmed by the sudden change.
She said the improvement she had worked towards was beginning to show in her performances, making the opportunity to rejoin the national side particularly rewarding.
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