India were desperate. And rightly so. Had they not been, they wouldn't have looked beyond their reserves to fill the void left by Pratika Rawal's unfortunate injury on the eve of the Women's World Cup semi-final. The selectors had names on the standby list - Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Sayali Satghare – yet none quite matched the profile India were seeking. So, in came Shafali Verma, the forgotten firestarter of Indian cricket's new age.

For Shafali, it's been a strange twist of fate – and fortune. She had been overlooked twice, first when the initial squad was announced, and again when Yastika Bhatia's injury opened a temporary window, only for Uma Chetry to be preferred.

But destiny, as it often does, found its own timing. When Pratika limped off against New Zealand, Shafali's phone fina

See Full Page