Shafali Verma becomes youngest batter in 52 years of World Cup history to…; breaks Virender Sehwag's record

Shafali Verma becomes the youngest player to score fifty in an ODI World Cup final, achieving this at just 21 years and 278 days.

Shafali Verma tore into South Africa in a rain-delayed Women’s ODI World Cup final at DY Patil to become the youngest player to score fifty in an ODI World Cup final, men’s or women's. India managed to post 298 runs on the board at the end of their 50 overs because of the foundation laid by Shafali.

Shafali Verma plays a shot during the ICC Women's World Cup final ODI cricket match between India Women and South Africa Women.(PTI)

The 21-year-old opened the innings with swagger. She looked confident from the outset and did not get overawed by the occasion or names in the opposition, stitching a 104-run partnership with Smriti Mandhana for the opening stand.

India vs South Africa Live Score, Women's World Cup Final

The record for Shafali Verma

Shafali’s landmark arrives at 21 years, 278 days - a mark no player has touched in men’s or women’s ODI World Cup final. The management and Indian fans would have hoped for a century from her; however, she fell after scoring 87 runs off 78 balls.

Name	Age	Country	World Cup edition
Shafali Verma	21y 278d	India	2025 Women’s WC Final
Jessica Duffin	23y 235d	Australia	2013 Women’s WC Final
Nat Sciver-Brunt	24y 337d	England	2017 Women’s WC Final

Table: Youngest half-centurions in Women’s ODI World Cup finals

Notably, Verma broke the record of Jessica Duffin of Australia, who scored a half-century against the West Indies in the 2013 World Cup, aged 23 years and 235 days. The third name in the list is that of the English all-rounder, Nat Sciver-Brunt, whose half-century against India came in 2017, when she was aged 24 years and 337 days.

Shafali Verma goes past her idol

Name	Age	Country	World Cup edition
Virender Sehwag	24y 154d	India	2003 Men’s WC Final
Steve Smith	25y 300d	Australia	2015 Men’s WC Final
David Boon	26y 314d	Australia	1987 Men’s WC Final

Table: Youngest half-centurions in Men’s ODI World Cup finals

Shafali Verma is a naturally aggressive batter who likes to take on the bowlers from the beginning of her innings. Many compare her to Virender Sehwag because of her batting style and intent. Incidentally, when it comes to ODI World Cup finals in both men’s and women’s cricket, Verma has broken the record of Virender Sehwag.

Rank	Name	Age	Country	World Cup edition
1	Shafali Verma	21y 278d	India	2025 Women’s
2	Jessica Duffin	23y 235d	Australia	2013 Women’s
3	Virender Sehwag	24y 154d	India	2003 Men’s

Table: Youngest half-centurions in ODI World Cup finals

Virender Sehwag was India’s youngest player to score a half-century in the ODI World Cup final at 24 years and 154 days during the 2003 World Cup final against Australia. The record stands, but Verma will hope that it ends on the right end of the result and her effort contributes to India winning their maiden title.