WPL 2025: Shafali Verma Reacts After Sharing 2nd Highest Partnership in Women's Premier League With Jess Jonassen

Delhi Capitals (DC) opener Shafali Verma has said she enjoys batting with Jess Jonassen with whom she shared the second highest partnership in Women's Premier League (WPL) history on Sarurday (March 1) in Bengaluru.

Shafali and Jonassen achieved the feat during Delhi Capitals' dominating display against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in WPL 2025 match 14 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The duo combined for an unbeaten 146-run stand, the highest for the second wicket in DC's 9-wicket win.

The Indian batter and Australian all-rounder could have broken the all-time record also set by an Indo-Australian duo of DC, featuring Shafali, if the target was larger than 148. Shafali still holds the record with DC skipper Meg Lanning.

The Lanning and Shafali pair set the highest partnership record in the inaugural season against the same opponent in RCB when duo shared a 162-run stand for the opening wicket. Jonassen and Shafali's stand breaks the record for the 2nd wicket in WPL. Here is a look at the five highest stands in the league:

Highest Partnership in Women's Premier League - Best Stands in WPL History

Shafali Verma & Meg Lanning (DC) - 162 vs RCB in 2023
Shafali Verma vs Jess Jonassen (DC) - 146* vs RCB in 2025
Laura Wolvaardt & Beth Mooney (GG) - 140 vs RCB in 2024
Devika Vaidya & Alyssa Healy (UPW) - 139* vs RCB in 2023
Nat Sciver-Brunt & Hayley Matthews (MI) - 133 vs UPW in 2025

Jonassen and Shafali surpassed Mumbai Indians pair Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews' tally of 133 to set the record for the highest 2nd wicket partnership in Women's Premier League history. Also, RCB has been on the wrong end of a partnership four times in the top 5 stands of WPL.

Coming back to the match, debutant N. Charani and Shikha Pandey scalped two wickets each to restrict the home side to 147/5 in 20 overs. Delhi Capitals then chased down the target in just 15.3 overs, courtesy of fifties from Shafali Verma and Jess Jonassen.

This was Delhi Capitals' second consecutive win on back-to-back nights, making them the first team to qualify for the playoffs in the tournament after earning ten points in seven matches.

Player of the Match Shafali Verma, who scored an unbeaten 80 off 43 balls, reflected on her and the team's performance. She said, "As a batter, you have to start from zero every time, even if you're playing on consecutive days. Our bowlers did a great job in the first innings, and our planning has been going well. We've been executing our plans perfectly."

She further added, "Early on during the chase, they were getting a lot of assistance, but once we settled in, we were able to play our shots confidently. I backed myself to stay at the crease. I knew that if I spent some time in the middle, my eyesight would adjust, and things would get easier. Once Jess and I settled in, the runs started flowing."

Speaking about her match-winning partnership and her experience playing with Aussie all-rounder Jonassen, who smashed an unbeaten 61 off 38 balls, Verma said, "Playing with JJ is always fun. She's from Australia and has a great mindset, which makes things even better. The left-right combination can be challenging for the opposition."

"The key was communicating and reminding each other to stay till the end. That understanding helped us build a strong partnership. The best part was that we listened to and believed in each other, which made all the difference in playing such a good innings," she concluded.

Delhi Capitals will next take on Gujarat Giants in their last league stage match on March 7 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. DC will aim for a win to keep their hopes of a direct final qualification alive.