Shafali Verma Seeks England Redemption: Can Third Tour Spark ODI Comeback Ahead of World Cup?

Shafali Verma is embarking on her third tour of England, but much has evolved since her previous visits. Notably, she is no longer a teenager.

During her initial tour in 2021 for the multi-format series, Shafali was primarily known as a T20I cricketer, making her debut in both ODIs and Test cricket on that tour. By the time of the 2022 England tour, encompassing the Commonwealth Games and a bilateral series, India valued her impactful, albeit inconsistent, performances. This risk-versus-reward approach proved beneficial for both Shafali and the team.

Fast forward to mid-2025, and Shafali has recently been recalled to the T20I squad, yet remains out of favor in ODIs during a home World Cup year. Following India's disappointing exit in the league stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, Shafali's position in the team appeared precarious. Despite the scarcity of Indian batters capable of her aggressive, immediate attacking style – a rare trait globally – she was dropped.

However, this exclusion may have inadvertently benefited Shafali. It allowed her to participate fully in the 50-over domestic competitions. She led Haryana to the quarter-finals of the Senior Women's One Day Trophy, topping the run-scoring charts with 527 runs at an average exceeding 75 and a strike rate of 152.31. Only Kiran Navgire recorded a higher strike rate, but her score was a mere 116.

Shafali continued her impressive form in the Senior Women's One Day Challenger Trophy, a competition where national selectors scout top performers. As captain of Team A, she once again dominated, scoring 414 runs at an average of 82.80 and a strike rate of 145.26. Her score surpassed the next highest by nearly 200 runs, and she maintained the highest scoring pace in the competition.

In WPL 2025, Shafali emerged as the leading run-scorer for the Delhi Capitals (DC), who finished as runners-up, and ranked fourth overall. Her consistent performances made it impossible to exclude her from India's T20I side. Despite India playing only one T20I series since her axing, they have reinstated their premier opener as they begin preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The key question remains: What specific changes has Shafali implemented in her game during this period? What accounts for her newfound consistency?

"She has worked on keeping herself cool," DC assistant coach Hemlata Kala told ESPNcricinfo. "In the WPL, she tried to play longer innings and not getting out inside the powerplay.

"Everyone said she only bats for 10-15 overs [in one-day cricket]. But she batted for longer in [the domestic] one-dayers, struck back-to-back hundreds. Even in multi-day (Senior Women's Multi-Day Challenger Trophy) she played well. She has now consistently started playing longer innings. It is not that she didn't do it before - she has hit 130-140 in Under-23 cricket. She has the ability, but in T20s she tries to make best use of the powerplay."

Former India international Kala was the chief selector when Shafali, aged 15, made her international debut. Apart from being with DC, Kala was also part of the coaching staff for teams in the one-day and multi-day Challenger Trophy and witnessed the damage Shafali could inflict as an opposition player.

"I keep telling her, no one has the mindset she has - of hitting sixes from ball one," Kala said. "Whenever I talk to her, I tell her, 'don't leave your game'. Her power game is natural, no one hits sixes at will like her in the women's game. I told her to not leave behind the qualities that have brought her here. She is a different cricketer, I selected her for the first time based on that."

Kala also emphasized the significance of rotating the strike and avoiding stagnation while seeking big hits. Shafali has focused on exploiting gaps in the field.

"As you all know, my starts are good but building an innings has been an issue," Shafali had said earlier this year. "But now, I am focusing on how to get those singles, how to build the innings, how to do well for the team."

This adjustment was evident in the WPL, where she demonstrated restraint even during the powerplay, without significantly impacting her overall strike rate (152.76 in 2025 compared to 156.85 in 2024).

The upcoming five-match T20I series in England could pave the way for Shafali's return to the ODI side. Following these matches, India will play one more series before the World Cup: a three-ODI series against Australia at home. Whether Shafali secures a spot and how it affects other top-order batters, such as Pratika Rawal (the ODI opener) and Harleen Deol (No. 3), remains uncertain.

Indeed, this third tour of England might prove to be a turning point for Shafali Verma.