Shafali Verma's England Return: Can a Refined Approach Cement Her Place Before Home World Cup?

Shafali Verma is embarking on her third tour of England, but this time, the circumstances are significantly different. The most notable change is that she is no longer a teenager.

Her initial tour in 2021 saw her emerge as a T20I specialist, subsequently debuting in both ODIs and Test cricket. By 2022, during the Commonwealth Games and the subsequent bilateral series in England, India valued her impactful, albeit inconsistent, performances. This strategy of balancing risk and reward proved beneficial for both Verma and the team.

Fast forward to mid-2025, and Shafali Verma has recently regained her place in the T20I squad but remains excluded from the ODI setup, even with a home World Cup on the horizon. Following India's disappointing exit in the league stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, her position in the team appeared precarious. Despite the scarcity of Indian batters capable of her explosive starts – a rare talent globally – she was dropped.

In retrospect, this exclusion might have been a blessing in disguise. It allowed Shafali Verma to fully participate in the domestic 50-over 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 impressive average of over 75 and a strike rate of 152.31. Only Kiran Navgire recorded a higher strike rate, but with a significantly lower score of 116.

Verma continued her dominant form in the Senior Women's One Day Challenger Trophy, a platform for national selectors to scout top performers. Captaining Team A, she once again topped the charts with 414 runs at an average of 82.80 and a strike rate of 145.26, nearly 200 runs ahead of the next best, and with the highest scoring pace in the competition.

Her performance in the WPL 2025, where she was the leading run-scorer for runners-up Delhi Capitals (DC) and fourth overall, made her inclusion in India's T20I side undeniable. Even though India played only one T20I series since her axing, they have reinstated their premier opener as they begin preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

But what exactly has changed in Shafali Verma's approach? What's driving her newfound consistency?

"She has focused on maintaining composure," said Hemlata Kala, DC assistant coach, to ESPNcricinfo. "During the WPL, she aimed to bat for extended periods, avoiding early dismissals during the powerplay."

Kala added, "People often noted that she would only bat for 10-15 overs in one-day cricket. However, she demonstrated her ability to bat longer in the domestic one-dayers, scoring consecutive centuries. Even in multi-day matches, she performed well. She has now consistently started playing longer innings. While she was always capable of it, as evidenced by her 130-140 scores in Under-23 cricket, she now leverages the powerplay more effectively in T20s."

Kala, a former India international and chief selector when a 15-year-old Shafali Verma made her debut, also served as part of the coaching staff for teams in the one-day and multi-day Challenger Trophy. She has witnessed firsthand the impact Verma can have as an opposition player.

"I constantly remind her that she possesses a unique mindset – the ability to hit sixes from the very first ball," Kala explained. "Whenever we talk, I emphasize the importance of staying true to her game. Her power game is innate; no other woman cricketer can hit sixes at will like she does. I urge her not to abandon the qualities that brought her this far. She is a distinct cricketer, and that's what initially led me to select her."

Kala also emphasized the importance of rotating the strike and avoiding stagnation while seeking big hits. Verma has been actively working on finding gaps in the field when it spreads.

"As everyone knows, my starts are usually strong, but building an innings has been a challenge," Shafali Verma stated earlier this year. "But now, I am concentrating on securing singles, constructing innings, and contributing effectively to the team."

This was evident during the WPL, where she displayed more restraint and avoided the desperation to smash every delivery, even during the powerplay. However, this did not significantly affect her overall strike rate, which remained high (152.76 in 2025 vs 156.85 in 2024).

The upcoming five-match T20I series in England could pave the way for Shafali Verma'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 Verma will be included and what impact it will have on other top-order batters like Pratika Rawal (the current ODI opener) and Harleen Deol (No. 3) remains to be seen.

This third tour of England could indeed mark a turning point for Shafali Verma.