Shafali Verma Makes History with Record-Breaking Six in Women's T20 World Cup

In a groundbreaking moment during the Women's T20 World Cup, Shafali Verma hit a six on the very first ball of the match against Pakistan, making history as the first player to achieve this feat. Despite a slow start, India posted a total of 170 runs, with Smriti Mandhana leading the charge with a stellar 68 runs. This article delves into the match highlights and Shafali's remarkable achievement.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 14, 2026, 22:23 IST

Historic Moment for Shafali Verma

During the Women's T20 World Cup match held at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on June 14, Shafali Verma made headlines by achieving a remarkable milestone. The 22-year-old Indian opener launched India's innings with a spectacular six on the very first ball of the match against Pakistan. After winning the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat first, and Pakistan's captain Fatima Sana handed the ball to left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal. Shafali wasted no time, hitting a six right away. However, Iqbal bounced back, delivering three consecutive dot balls before claiming Shafali's wicket on the fifth ball of the opening over.

Shafali Verma's Unprecedented Achievement

Shafali Verma etched her name in history by becoming the first player ever to hit a six on the opening ball of a Women's T20 World Cup match. This achievement is rare, as it has not frequently occurred in the men's T20 World Cup either. A notable instance was when New Zealand's Martin Guptill hit a six off Ravichandran Ashwin on the first ball during a 2016 Men's T20 World Cup match between New Zealand and India in Nagpur.

In terms of the match, the Indian team managed to score a total of 170 runs despite a shaky start. Smriti Mandhana shone brightly with an impressive innings of 68 runs off 44 balls, forming a significant 91-run partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed 35 runs from 34 balls. Richa Ghosh also played a crucial role, finishing the innings strongly with a quickfire 34 runs off just 17 balls. India accelerated in the latter half, scoring 105 runs in the last 10 overs after a modest 65 runs in the initial phase of their innings.