Jubilant celebrations erupted in Rohtak, the hometown of Indian cricketer Shafali Verma, after India lifted the Women’s World Cup title by defeating South Africa in Navi Mumbai late on Sunday night. Shafali was the star performer in the final.

Even though it was past midnight, crowds gathered outside Shafali’s house in the Ghanipura area to congratulate her family. People distributed sweets, danced to drumbeats, and burst crackers as the celebrations carried on well into the early hours of Monday.

Shafali’s family and relatives said they were eagerly waiting for her return to give her a grand welcome. They were confident about her performance and had already kept crackers ready. When India won the match, they celebrated with immense pride.

Her father, Sanjeev Verma, who runs a jewellery shop, said the entire family was overjoyed. “She promised to give her 100 per cent for the team and she did. We are so proud of her. Shafali not only scored a brilliant 87 runs, but also took two crucial wickets, sealing India’s victory,” he said with pride.

Recalling the moments before the match, Sanjeev said, “Shafali was originally not part of the World Cup squad and got in as a replacement for another opener, Pratika Rawal. She was a bit nervous since she couldn’t perform well in the semifinal, so I motivated her by reminding her of her past achievements like her double century in Test cricket, her record-breaking season in the Women’s Premier League, and her crucial knocks in previous international matches.”

Her mother, Parveen Bala, said “It feels like another Diwali in our house, our locality and the city. Everyone is celebrating. We are now waiting for her to come home so we can give her a warm welcome. Shafali has once again proved that girls are in no way less than boys. I congratulate all parents who support their daughters to chase their dreams.”

Shafali’s younger sister, Nancy, said the family always believed in her. “We watched the live telecast at the cricket academy, and we were so excited throughout the match. We always knew she would play a big role in the final,” she said proudly.

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