Shafali Verma Stuns World, Becomes Youngest Ever to 50 in World Cup Final

India’s Shafali Verma made history at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final in Mumbai, becoming the youngest cricketer—across both men’s and women’s formats—to score a half-century in a World Cup final. The 21-year-old all-rounder’s dynamic performance powered India to a commanding 298/7 against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium, a total that stands as the second-highest in the history of the Women’s World Cup finals.

Record-Breaking Knock at DY Patil Stadium

Opening the innings alongside Smriti Mandhana, Shafali delivered a blistering 87 runs off 78 balls, featuring seven fours and two sixes. Her 104-run stand with Mandhana provided India with a powerful start, setting the tone for the innings. With this feat, Shafali surpassed Virender Sehwag’s 2003 record to become the youngest player ever to register a fifty in a World Cup final—men’s or women’s. She also broke Jessica Duffin’s 2013 women’s record, cementing her place in cricket history at just 21 years and 278 days old.

Dominance with Bat and Ball

While her batting drew the spotlight, Shafali’s brief bowling spell stunned both spectators and opponents. Introduced late in the evening, she struck twice in a span of seven balls—dismissing South Africa’s Sune Luus with a sharp caught-and-bowled and removing Marizanne Kapp with an edge to wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh. Her all-round contribution helped India tighten their control in the high-stakes match.

Historical Comparisons and Records

Shafali now leads the list of youngest World Cup final half-centurions, ahead of Jessica Duffin (23 years, 235 days), Nat Sciver-Brunt (24 years, 337 days), and Virender Sehwag (24 years, 154 days). Her fearless, attacking style has often drawn parallels to Sehwag, and on this occasion, she went one better, surpassing the veteran’s record in a display of confidence and maturity beyond her years.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Shafali Verma scored 87 runs off 78 balls in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup final.
• At 21 years and 278 days, she became the youngest ever—across men’s and women’s cricket—to score a fifty in a World Cup final.
• She also took two wickets, dismissing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp in quick succession.
• India’s total of 298/7 was the second-highest in Women’s World Cup final history.

A Defining Moment for Indian Women’s Cricket

Shafali’s all-round brilliance not only lifted India’s performance in the final but also symbolised a new era for women’s cricket in the country. Her record-breaking innings, coupled with match-turning wickets, has established her as a central figure in India’s World Cup campaign—continuing the legacy of fearless cricket that has long defined Indian batting greatness.