India all-rounder Shafali Verma has revealed that her mid-tournament call-up to the national squad during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 caught her completely off guard — arriving while she was playing domestic cricket for Haryana, with little awareness of how the tournament was unfolding.

The Unexpected Call

Shafali was in the middle of a state-level match for Haryana when the national team manager reached out with the news of her selection for the remaining matches of the World Cup. She said she had deliberately stepped away from social media and had not been tracking the tournament, choosing instead to concentrate fully on her own game.

'I was representing Haryana in a state-level match when the national team manager suddenly called to inform me that I had been selected for the remaining matches of the World Cup. 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,' Shafali told JioStar.

What the Call-Up Meant to Her

For Shafali, the selection carried added significance because it followed an extended period away from the Indian setup. The right-handed batter described the moment as a validation of the sustained effort she had invested in her development outside the national environment.

'I felt all the hard work I had put in over the past year was finally paying off. The team welcomed me warmly, and the two or three net sessions helped me adapt to the conditions and find my rhythm. Being in good touch through domestic cricket also gave me confidence. The work I had put into myself was reflecting in my game, and that felt good,' she said.

Smooth Transition Back to International Cricket

Shafali credited her consistent domestic performances for making the re-integration into the international setup relatively seamless. Rather than needing a lengthy settling-in period, a small number of practice sessions with the national team was enough for her to regain familiarity with the team's playing environment and conditions.

The batter noted that arriving in good form from domestic cricket meant the psychological adjustment was far less daunting than it might otherwise have been — confidence built at the state level translated directly into readiness at the international stage.

Context: Shafali's Role in the Squad

Shafali was brought into India's ODI World Cup squad as an additional batting option during the latter stages of the competition. Her inclusion underscored the team management's intent to bolster the top order with a player of her attacking credentials, even mid-tournament. This comes amid broader conversations around India's squad selection dynamics and the pathways domestic performers have to force their way back into contention at the highest level.