Shafali Verma joins elite club, rivals Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj in T20 World Cup records
Shafali Verma (Image credit: BCCI) NEW DELHI: Shafali Verma continued her torrid run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a fluent 53 off 34 balls against Bangladesh to not only guide India to a five-wicket win but also cement her place among the most decorated performers in the tournament’s history.With her match-winning knock at Old Trafford, Shafali won her third Player of the Match award in Women’s T20 World Cup history, joining an elite Indian group led by Harmanpreet Kaur (4) and now level with Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj (3 each).The milestone ranks Shafali among India’s most consistent players in big matches at the global event, underlining her evolution from teenage sensation to tournament opener.
A milestone of 500 runs with a record number of hits
The 22-year-old also crossed 500 career runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup during the innings, achieving the feat at a remarkable strike rate of 133.07 – the highest by any batsman with 500 or more runs in the history of the tournament.She now leads the list of 23 batsmen who have crossed the 500-run mark ahead of Australian captain Alyssa Healy (129.39), highlighting her unrivaled scoring rate on the global stage.Shafali’s knock once again set the tone for India’s chase as they attacked from the start, helping the team power to 63/1 and effectively knocking Bangladesh out of the contest early.Reflecting on her innings, Shafali said she was happy with her form but admitted she would have preferred to remain unbeaten. “Very happy with the way I batted today. But if I’m not out, I’ll be a lot happier,” she said after receiving the POTM award.
Most POTM awards for Indian Women in T20 World Cup
- 4 – Harmanpreet Kaur
- 3 – Smriti Mandhana
- 3 – Mithali Raj
- 3 – Shafali Verma
Power-play dominance and India’s smooth chase
Chasing 137, India got off to a blistering start as Shafali punished 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 to 53 shortly after.Despite her dismissal, India remained in control throughout the chase. Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15) provided the late pressure, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma calmly completed the proceedings as India reached the target in 16.5 overs.Earlier, Bangladesh posted 136/8, built on 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 knocks ensured that the total remained within reach.