A late replacement for the injured Rawal, Shafali has been given the freedom by the team management to play her natural game

India and Australia clash in a high-stakes Women’s World Cup 2025 semi-final at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, with Alyssa Healy’s fitness, Smriti Mandhana’s form, and Shafali Verma’s return setting the stage for an epic showdown.

In ODIs, Shafali's highest score against Australia is a 91-ball 56, scored in India's memorable win 2021 victory in Mackay that snapped the Aussies' 26-game one-day winning streak. The episode was not found or is unavailable.

Shafali Verma prepares for India's World Cup semi-final against Australia after being called up due to Pratika's injury, aiming to make an impact.

India have included Shafali Verma in the squad as a replacement for Pratika Rawal, but the youngster faces a tough challenge as India prepare to take on Australia in the first semi-final.

Back in training two days out from India's semi-final, she was in mismatched gear but entirely of the group | ESPN.com

When the World Cup squad was announced in August, Shafali was omitted in favor of Rawal as Smriti Mandhana 's opening partner. The selectors had opted for consistency over X-factor. Although she hasn't played WODIs for India since October 2024,