Shafali Verma Named Replacement For Injured Pratika Rawal Ahead Of Semi-Final

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October 27, 2025 0 25

Shafali Verma has been named the injury replacement of Pratika Rawal for the all important IND-W vs AUS-W World Cup semi-final clash.

A crucial injury has forced a significant change to India’s Women’s World Cup squad, with the explosive Shafali Verma named as the replacement for opener Pratika Rawal. Rawal was ruled out of the tournament after twisting her right ankle while fielding against Bangladesh, an injury that prevented her from batting.

With no reserve opener available, the selectors have turned to Verma to provide a new dynamic at the top of the order ahead of the high-stakes semifinal clash against Australia.

This is a substantial blow for India, as Rawal had been a pillar of consistency throughout the tournament. She amassed 308 runs in six innings, averaging an impressive 51.33. Her contributions included a vital century against New Zealand and a hard-fought fifty in the group stage encounter with Australia.

Her stable partnership with Smriti Mandhana has been a key component of India’s batting strategy, making her absence a challenge for the team.

However, Shafali Verma’s inclusion brings a distinctly aggressive approach to the lineup. Since her earlier omission from the ODI side, she has shown strong form and possesses valuable experience against Australia on the world stage. She is widely expected to slot directly into the playing XI for the semifinal, offering a potent, if different, threat at the crease.

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In additional team news, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who was rested for the Bangladesh match after taking a blow to her finger, is anticipated to be fully fit for the crucial semifinal.

India will be aiming to overturn their recent history against the reigning World Champions when the two sides meet in Semifinal 2 on Thursday, October 30, at Navi Mumbai’s D.Y. Patil Stadium.