Shafali Verma (Image Credit: BCCI)
New Delhi: Shafali Verma continued her strong run in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scoring 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 the tournament’s history.With her match win at Old Trafford, Shafali was named Player of the Match for the third time in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, joining an elite Indian group led by Harmanpreet Kaur (4), and is now level with Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj (3 each).The feat places Shafali firmly among the most consistent Indian players in big matches at the global event, underscoring her development from a teenage girl to a crucial tournament opener.
500 spread with standard strike rate
The 22-year-old also crossed 500 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup during the innings, achieving the feat with an impressive strike rate of 133.07 – the highest among all batsmen with 500 or more runs in the history of the tournament.She now tops a list of 23 batsmen to have crossed the 500-run mark, ahead of Australian captain Alyssa Healy (129.39), highlighting her unparalleled scoring pace 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 race to 63/1 in the powerplay and effectively putting Bangladesh out of contention early.Reflecting on her roles, Shafali said that she was pleased with her level, but admitted that she would have preferred to remain undefeated.
“Very happy with the way I batted today. But if I didn’t get out, it would be even happier for me,” 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
Powerplay dominance and smooth chase for India
Chasing 137, India got off to a scorching 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 the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup – before soon after falling to 53.Despite their dismissal, India remained in control throughout the chase.
Jemima Rodrigues (26 off 15) provided the late impetus, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma calmly finished off proceedings as India reached the target in 16.5 overs.Earlier, Bangladesh scored 136/8, built on the contributions of Jawiria Ferdous (33) and skipper Nigar Sultana (32). However, the Indian bowling unit, led by Radha Yadav’s 3/28 and supported by Shri Charani’s late batting, ensured the total remained within reach.