Shafali Verma's 53 Leads India to Victory, Secures Record

Shafali Verma (Pic credit: BCCI)

NEW DELHI: Shafali Verma continued her red-hot run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, striking 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 country’s most decorated performers in tournament history. With her match-winning knock at Old Trafford, Shafali collected 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 places Shafali firmly among India’s most consistent big-match performers in the global event, underlining her evolution from a teenage sensation to a tournament-defining opener.

500-run milestone with record strike rate

The 22-year-old also crossed 500 career runs in Women’s T20 World Cup during the innings, achieving the feat at a remarkable strike rate of 133.07 — the highest among all batters with 500 or more runs in the tournament’s history. She now leads a 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 chase as she attacked from the outset, helping the team race to 63/1 in the powerplay and effectively shutting Bangladesh out of the contest early. Reflecting on her innings, Shafali said she was pleased with her form but admitted she would have preferred to remain unbeaten. “Very happy the way I batted today. But if I will be not out, that will be so happier for me,” she 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 blazing start, with Shafali punishing anything short or full and immediately putting 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 shortly after for 53. Despite her dismissal, India remained in control throughout the chase. Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15) provided the late push, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma calmly finished proceedings as India reached the target in 16.5 overs. Earlier, Bangladesh had 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 the total remained within reach.