Guwahati, Mar 18 (UNI) Batting star Shafali Verma added another feather to her cap by securing a hat-trick in the Women’s U23 One-Day Trophy on Tuesday, further cementing her status as one of India’s most promising cricketers.
The feat comes on the heels of her stellar performance in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, where she emerged as one of the leading scorers. While the young cricketer has faced challenges on the international front and experienced heartbreak in the WPL final, her latest bowling milestone highlights her resilience and adaptability.
Shafali’s journey in the past year has been marked by highs and lows. India’s early exit from the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, where she managed just 97 runs in four matches, raised questions about her role in the national team.
However, she bounced back emphatically in the 2025 WPL, amassing 304 runs at a strike rate of 153, with 16 sixes to her name, second only to Ashleigh Gardner. Despite her individual brilliance, her franchise Delhi Capitals fell short in the WPL final, suffering their third consecutive title defeat to Mumbai Indians on March 15.
Undeterred by the disappointment, Shafali led Haryana in the U23 pre-quarterfinal against Karnataka in Guwahati, just two days after the WPL final. Adding intrigue to the contest, Karnataka’s captain Niki Prasad, her WPL teammate, stood on the opposite side.
Karnataka built a steady foundation at 188/4 when Shafali, known more for her explosive batting than her off-spin, decided to introduce herself into the attack.
Her golden spell unfolded in the 44th over as she dismissed P Saloni and Soumya Verma off consecutive deliveries. She then completed her hat-trick in the first ball of the 46th over by clean-bowling Namita D’Souza, finishing with figures of 3/20 in four overs. Her hat-trick marked the fourth by an Indian female cricketer in the 2024-25 season and was her first in the 50-over format.
Karnataka managed to post a competitive total of 217, powered by Mithila Vinod’s resilient 90 off 87 balls.
In response, Shafali opened aggressively, smashing four boundaries before falling for 18 off 12 balls. Haryana faced pressure at 71/3 but were rescued by Sonia Mendhiya (66 off 79 balls) and Tanisha Ohlan (77 not out off 77 balls), who stitched together a vital 92-run partnership.
Triveni Vasistha’s unbeaten 25 off 37 deliveries ensured Haryana comfortably chased down the target with six wickets and eight overs to spare.
Shafali’s latest feat underlines her evolution as a cricketer. While she is celebrated primarily for her power-hitting, her ability to contribute with the ball adds an extra dimension to her game. This performance serves as a testament to her determination to adapt and thrive across formats, reaffirming her place as a key figure in Indian women’s cricket.
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