Sushma Verma, the 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, made headlines with her extraordinary innings of 237 runs off 498 balls for North Zone against West Zone in the Inter-Zonal multi-day trophy in Puducherry, India. This score is the second-highest in women's first-class cricket, just five runs short of Kiran Baluch's world record of 242 runs set in 2004. Opening the innings for the first time in red-ball cricket, Sushma's performance included 30 fours and 4 sixes, leading North Zone to a total of 484 runs and a 125-run lead after West Zone posted 359. The match ended in a draw, but North Zone was declared champions based on their first-innings lead.

Initially, Sushma was set to bat lower down the order, but after a last-minute injury to a teammate, she stepped up to open. Her innings was marked by a cautious start, but she quickly settled in, reaching her hundred off 285 balls and eventually surpassing Mithali Raj's previous record for the highest score in Indian domestic cricket. Despite her success, Sushma expressed disappointment at falling short of the world record, stating she lost focus on two crucial balls during her innings. Her resilience and determination reflect her commitment to the sport, as she aims to return to the Indian national team in the future.