The ICC Women’s Player of the Month 2025 for November is out, and it’s India’s Shafali Verma who edged Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong and the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Esha Oza to claim the honour. She was the star of the Women’s ODI World Cup final against South Africa, in which she was named Player of the Match for her prolific all-rounder performance.
In the tournament knockouts, the power hitter was brought in as a replacement for Pratika Rawal, who got injured. Making her appearance for just two matches, 21-year-old Shafali, however, delivered with style in the final and showcased what advantage she can bring to the team ahead.
The right-hand batter scored 87 runs off 78 balls, the highest-ever by an Indian opener in a World Cup final. Her partnership with Smriti Mandhana for over 100 runs led India to score a target of 298/7. She then extended her dominance with the ball during South Africa’s chase, dismissing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp and finished with figures of 2/36 in seven overs.
Shafali’s remarkable performance earned her this recognition despite being initially dropped from the India Women’s ODI squad for the World Cup. But she got her call to rejoin the team ahead of the knockouts and grabbed that opportunity to her full benefit. This achievement has now kept her in a very good position and has gained everyone’s attention for the upcoming matches.
Shafali Verma on getting crowned as ICC Player of the Month
For India’s Shafali Verma, the expectations have come to her far from what she had imagined. But to her surprise, the last-minute appearance in the squad for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Finals ended in great advantage for the team, leading them to their title victory.
Expressing her excitement at becoming ICC Player of the Month for November and reflecting on the World Cup win, Shafali said, “My first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup experience didn’t go as I expected but it ended far better than I could have ever wished or imagined.”
“I’m grateful that I could contribute to the team’s success in the Final and that I was able to be a part of making history in winning the World Cup for the first time and in front of a home crowd,” she added.
For Shafali, this achievement is a credit to her teammates and all people involved with her, who helped India Women’s win the ODI World Cup 2025.
“I’m truly honoured to be named the Women’s Player of the Month for November. I dedicate this award to my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who has supported my journey until now. We win and lose as a team the same goes for this award,” she concluded.
(Quotes sourced from ICC media release)
