Shafali Verma makes history, surpasses Laura Wolvaardt to become the highest run-scorer in women’s T20Is in a calendar year

ByTech Word News

Shafali Verma bats during the women’s gold medal match. (AP photo) NEW DELHI: Shafali Verma continued her sensational run in T20I cricket in 2026 and broke another record during India’s Asian Games gold clash against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.The Indian opener became the calendar year’s highest run-scorer in women’s T20Is, surpassing South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt. Shafali’s 29-ball 48 in the gold medal match took her to 863 runs for the year, surpassing Wolvaardt’s 824.Shafali’s innings at the Korogi Sports Park contained three fours and three sixes to reach a strike rate of 165.52. Although she fell short by another half-century, her latest contribution extended the remarkable streak in the shortest format.In 24 T20Is in 2026, Shafali has now scored 863 runs at an average of 39.22 and a strike rate of 162.83. Her tally includes one century and seven fifties, with a best score of 100 not out.Wolvaardt has scored 824 runs in 24 matches this year at an average of 43.36 and a strike rate of 138.72. Her tally includes two centuries and four fifties, with a best of 126 not out.

Most runs in a calendar year in Women’s T20Is

  • 863 – Shafali Verma (IND-W) in 2026*
  • 824 – Laura Wolvaardt (SA-W) in 2026
  • 800 – Natasha Miles (HKG-W) in 2026
  • 779 – Esha Oz (SAE-W) in 2025
  • 779 – Yasmin Daswani (HKG-W) in 2026

Shafali’s incredible knockout run

Shafali’s record-breaking year has been driven by an extraordinary run of performances in knockout matches since the 2025 Women’s World Cup final.After scoring 87 against South Africa in the World Cup final, she maintained her aggressive approach in the Asia Cup and Asian Games as well. Her scores in the last five T20Is were 64, 68, 40 not out, 100 not out and 48.She scored 64 off 40 balls against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup semi-final, followed that up with 68 off 39 balls in the final against Sri Lanka.At the Asian Games, Shafali smashed 40 off just 15 balls against Japan in the quarter-final and made an amazing unbeaten 100 off 49 balls in the semi-final against Bangladesh.Her 48 against Sri Lanka in the final completed an extraordinary stretch of six innings in which she amassed 407 runs at an average of 101.75, including one century and three fifties.Shafali Verma’s Last 5 T20I Scores

  • 64 (40), SF Asian Cup
  • 68 (39), Asian Cup Final
  • 40* (15), Asian Games QF
  • 100* (49), SF Asian Games
  • 48 (29), Asian Games final

Mandhana-Shafali extended the partnership record

Shafali’s latest milestone came on the same day she and Smriti Mandhana extended their record as the most prolific partnership in women’s T20I cricket.The pair’s opening stand of 99 against Sri Lanka crossed the 4000-run mark. Mandhana and Shafali now have a combined 4,080 runs in 107 matches at an average of 39.23, including six century partnerships and 26 fifty-plus stands.The UAE pair of Esha Oz and Theertha Satish are second with 2,949 partnership runs, followed by Australia’s Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney with 2,720.

Most partnerships in Women’s T20Is (any wicket)

  • 4080 – Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma (IND-W)
  • 2949 – Esha Oza, Theertha Satish (SAE-W)
  • 2720 ​​- Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney (AUS-W)
  • 2556 – Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine (NZ-W)