Shafali Verma went from the lowest point of her cricket career — being dropped from the Indian women's cricket team — to becoming the highest run-scorer at the 2026 Asian Games women's cricket competition, where India successfully defended their gold medal. In between, she scored a decisive 87 runs and took two wickets in the final to help India claim their maiden Women's ODI World Cup title. Her journey, she says, was built on acceptance, relentless self-improvement, and the backing of family and teammates.

The Setback That Reshaped Her

Shafali described the period of being left out of the national side as the darkest chapter of her career. 'When I was dropped from the team, it was the saddest moment that cricket has given me in my entire life. But I think that moment was very hard for me. I only know how hard I worked when I was out of the team,' she said at a media roundtable facilitated by JSW Sports.

Her response, she explained, began with acceptance. 'The best thing I did was that I accepted everything. Yes, I'm not in the team, but I have to work hard. And I have to utilise this time very well,' she said. She channelled the absence into work on her mental health, technical skills, and physical fitness — a three-pronged effort she credits for the transformation that followed.

The World Cup Comeback

Shafali's route back to the team came through circumstance: an injury to Pratika Rawal opened a place for her in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup squad as a replacement. She made the opportunity count. Her 87-run knock and two wickets in the final against South Africa were central to India lifting the trophy for the first time in history.

'So, I worked very hard for that. I worked on my mental health, I worked on my skills, and I worked on my fitness. So I'm glad that at that time, I decided everything and worked on myself,' she said. She also credited her family's support as a stabilising force during the difficult period away from the team. 'In the end, family is everything for us,' she said. 'And the way they backed me at that time, so just thanks to them. And then the happy tears came when we won the ODI World Cup.'

The dressing-room reception on her return was equally meaningful. 'I think the support of my teammates, the support of the coach, I think it's the best feeling… The way they welcomed me at that time, I think that's the happiest thing as a player,' she said.

Asian Games Dominance in Japan

If the World Cup was the emotional peak of Shafali's comeback, the 2026 Asian Games in Japan was the statistical confirmation of her restored authority. She finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer, accumulating 188 runs at an average of 188 and a strike rate exceeding 200.

Her performances across the three matches were remarkable. She scored 40 runs against Japan in the quarterfinal, struck a century off just 49 balls against Bangladesh in the semifinal — the first century in the history of women's cricket at the Asian Games and also her first T20I hundred — and contributed 48 runs in the final against Sri Lanka. India won all three matches convincingly: by eight wickets over Japan, by 114 runs over Bangladesh, and by 147 runs over Sri Lanka to retain the gold medal.

Shafali was also visibly impressed by the hosting. 'When we went to Japan, we didn't even think how good the facilities would be. But the way Japan associated us, the way they gave us the ground stuff, so it's really praise for them,' she said.

Career Landmarks Behind the Comeback

Shafali's resurgence arrives against a backdrop of an already record-studded career. She became the youngest player in history to score 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals and reached the top of the women's T20I batting rankings. In 2023, she captained India to victory at the inaugural Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup. The following year, she scored a stunning 205 runs against South Africa in a Test match. Notably, her career has now spanned multiple formats and age-group milestones, making her return from the sidelines all the more significant.

The Bigger Picture for Indian Women's Cricket

Shafali frames her individual success firmly within a collective mission. 'As a player and as a team, we'll just try to bring more and more trophies to grow Indian women's cricket,' she said. 'After we won the ODI trophy, I'm pretty sure that Indian women's cricket has grown a lot.' She acknowledged that setbacks will recur but expressed the team's determination to minimise them and keep delivering for the country.

With the ODI World Cup title, an Asian Games gold, and a string of personal records now behind her, Shafali Verma appears focused on what comes next — both for herself and for the broader elevation of the women's game in India.