India opener Shafali Verma put up a show today at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, smashing 87 runs off 78 balls and helping India stay on top in the World Cup final clash against South Africa. In the process, she created history, becoming the Indian player to register the highest individual score in a World Cup final, going past Punam Raut.
For the unversed, Raut had scored 86 runs in the summit clash of the World Cup 2017 against England at Lord's in London. Shafali managed to cross her just and got out to Ayabonga Khaka in an attempt to up the run-scoring. She missed a well-deserved century and also a special distinction of becoming the first Indian, male or female, to notch up a ton in a World Cup final.
Overall, she is also only the third Indian Women's player to score a fifty in the crunch clash of the mega event, with Punam and Harmanpreet Kaur being the other two to have done so earlier.
Highest scores for India Women in a World Cup final
| Players | Score | Year |
| Shafali Verma | 87 | 2025 |
| Punam Raut | 86 | 2017 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 51 | 2017 |
Shafali only behind Dhoni and Gambhir in World Cup final
Meanwhile, Shafali Verma's 87-run knock is also the third-highest individual score by an Indian, male or female, in a World Cup. Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni are in top two, having scored 97 and 91* runs against Sri Lanka in the World Cup 2011 final.
Highest individual scores by Indian players in a World Cup final
| Players | Score | Year |
| Gautam Gambhir | 97 | 2011 |
| MS Dhoni | 91* | 2011 |
| Shafali Verma | 87 | 2025 |
| Punam Raut | 86 | 2017 |
As far as the final between India and South Africa are concerned, India started off superbly with Shafali and Smriti Mandhana adding 104 runs for the opening wicket. But South Africa pulled things back, picking up wickets at regular intervals. Meanwhile, India will be looking to post a total in excess of 300 runs to put pressure on South Africa.
