The Rohtak chhori who dared to dream big and make a comeback

“CHHORI NE DIKHA diya ki Shafali comeback karna jaanti hai!” The father of Shafali Verma, the player of the Women's World Cup final, sums up her unforgettable night in an earthytone.

- NITIN SHARMA

It’s quite a comeback story, indeed.Not selected forthe tournament, she played domestic cricket in front of untenanted stands, piled on runs, bowled more often than before, and kept training at the nets. And hoped for redemption.

When it came — due to an injury to opener Pratika Rawal — Shafalistamped herpresencein a historic final against South Africawith both bat (76-ball 87) and ball (two game-turning wickets). Both these performanceswere herbest returns in One-Day Internationals, helping script a 52-run victory at Navi Mumbai's D Y Patil Stadium as India became world champions for the first time.