Shafali Verma joins elite club, equals Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj in T20 World Cup records Cricket News:
NEW DELHI: Shafali Verma continued her hot run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 53 off 34 balls against Bangladesh to not only guide India to a five-wicket win but also cement her place among the country’s most decorated performers in the history of the tournament.With her match-winning knock at Old Trafford, Shafali collected her third Player of the Match award in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, joining an elite Indian group led by Harmanpreet Kaur: (4), and now level at: Smriti Mandhana and: Mithali Raj (3 each).The milestone established Shafali as one of India’s most consistent big-match performers at the global event, highlighting his evolution from a teenage sensation to a tournament stalwart.
500-run milestone with a record strike rate
The 22-year-old also crossed 500 career runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup during the innings, achieving the feat with a remarkable strike rate of 133.07 — the highest among all batters with 500 or more runs in the history of the tournament.She now leads the list of 23 batters who have crossed the 500-run mark, ahead of Australia captain Alyssa Healy (129.39), highlighting her unmatched scoring tempo on the global stage.Shafali’s knock once again set the tone for India’s pursuit of its attack from the start, helping the team race to 63/1 in the powerplay and effectively shutting Bangladesh out of the contest early on.Reflecting on his innings, Shafali said he was happy with his form but admitted he would have preferred to remain unbeaten. “Very happy the way I batted today. But if I will not be out, that will be so much happier for me,” he said after receiving the POTM award.
Most POTM awards for India Women in T20 World Cup
- 4 – Harmanpreet Kaur
- 3 – Smriti Mandhana
- 3 – Mithali Raj
- 3 – Shafali Verma
Powerplay dominance and India’s smooth chase
Chasing 137, India made a fiery start, with Shafali punishing anything short or full and immediately put Bangladesh under pressure. She reached her fifty in just 29 balls – the second-fastest by an Indian in Women’s T20 World Cup history – before falling soon after on 53.Despite his dismissal, India remained in control throughout the chase. Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15) provided the late push, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma finished the proceedings calmly as India reached the target in 16.5 overs.Earlier, Bangladesh posted 136/8, built around contributions from Juairiya Ferdous (33) and skipper Nigar Sultana (32). However, India’s bowling unit, led by Radha Yadav’s 3/28 and supported by Shree Charani’s late strikes, ensured that the total remained within reach.
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