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Shafali Verma, the firebrand batter, added one more feather to her cap by grabbing a hat-trick in the Women’s U23 One-Day Trophy. This comes on the heels of her outstanding performance in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, where she was one of the leading scorers. Though she also had to grapple with tough times on the international front as well as being left disappointed at the WPL final, Shafali showed us her strength and adaptability in this bowling landmark, reinforcing her status as one of India’s most promising cricketers.
A rollercoaster year for Shafali Verma
Shafali’s year of cricket has been rollercoaster-ish, a balancing act of elation and heartbreak. Following India‘s group-stage elimination at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, during which she scored just 97 runs from four games, her role in the national limited-overs team was brought into question. She bounced back strongly during the 2025 WPL, scoring 304 runs at a cracking strike rate of 153. Her 16 sixes were eclipsed only by Ashleigh Gardner, who played many more balls. Even though she was individually brilliant, Shafali’s Delhi Capitals lost the third consecutive WPL final against Mumbai Indians on March 15.
Hat-trick magic in Guwahati by Shafali
Less than two days after the WPL final, Shafali was leading Haryana in the U23 pre-quarterfinal against Karnataka in Guwahati. Karnataka’s captain Niki Prasad was not only Shafali’s opponent but also her teammate during the WPL final, adding an intriguing subplot to the match.
As Karnataka built a solid foundation with 188-4 on the board, Shafali decided to bring herself into the attack. Though not a frequent bowler, her off-breaks have earlier earned her 12 wickets in international cricket. In a dramatic display of bowling in the 44th over, she sent Saloni P and Soumya Verma off two consecutive balls. Wrapping up her hat-trick in the first ball of the 46th over by clean-bowling Namita D’Souza, Shafali took 3-20 from four overs. The record was the fourth hat-trick by a female Indian cricketer this 2024-25 season but was especially her first in the 50-over format.
HAT-TRICK! Shafali Verma (3.1-14-3) Karnataka 198/7 #KARvHAR #WU23Oneday #PQF1
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 17, 2025
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Team effort secures victory
Even as Shafali thrilled with her exploits with the ball, Karnataka somehow managed to give themselves a chance with a good total of 217 runs owing to Mithila Vinod‘s resilient 90 from 87 deliveries. Batting at number three as an opener, Shafali began in attacking vein with four boundaries but got out for a 18 made off just 12 balls. Haryana were put under pressure at 71-3 but were bailed out by Sonia Mendhiya (66 off 79 balls) and Tanisha Ohlan (77 not out off 77 balls), who shared an invaluable stand of 92 runs. Triveni Vasistha‘s unbeaten 25 off 37 balls guaranteed Haryana comfortably overhauling the target with six wickets and eight overs in hand.
Shafali’s hat-trick underscores her versatility as a cricketer. While she is predominantly celebrated for her power-hitting and fearless batting approach, her ability to contribute with part-time spin adds another dimension to her game. This performance is a testament to her determination to reinvent herself amidst challenges and maintain relevance across formats.
Also READ: From Ashleigh Gardner to Ellyse Perry: Top 5 six-hitters in WPL 2025
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
