Could see happiness on father's face after winning Women's ODI World Cup, says Shafali Verma

For Shafali Verma, the Player of the Match in India beating South Africa by 52 runs in the final to lift the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup trophy, one of the most cherished moments in the aftermath of the epochal triumph has been seeing sheer joy on her father Sanjeev’s face.

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“My father was very happy. Before coming back to Rohtak, I had met my father -- so he was very, very happy. My father is someone who doesn’t express his emotions very quickly, but I could see happiness on his face.”

“When I spoke to him on the phone for the first time after winning the World Cup, he said, ‘Haan bhai, champion!’ I felt extremely good to hear that,” said Shafali in an exclusive conversation with IANS, facilitated by JSW Sports, on Saturday.

Her welcome at home in Rohtak brought out a lot of fanfare, and Shafali said that people addressing her as World Champion, as well as thanking her and the team for winning the World Cup, has been music to her ears.

“Yes, definitely, they are calling me the World Champion. When I went to Rohtak, everyone welcomed me with a lot of love, which was very good. Then it felt to me that we had really won the World Cup because the whole of Rohtak had come, so thanks to all of them for coming.”