Shafali Verma Achieves Milestone in T20I Cricket
Shafali Verma's Record-Breaking Feat
Shafali Verma, the talented opening batter from India, has made headlines by surpassing Smriti Mandhana to become the third-highest recipient of Player of the Match awards for the Indian Women's T20I team.
At just 21 years of age, Verma has secured her eighth POTM award, placing her behind Mithali Raj (12 awards) and Harmanpreet Kaur (11 awards). Her latest achievement came after an outstanding performance where she scored an unbeaten 69 runs off just 34 balls against Sri Lanka in the second T20I, which earned her the Player of the Match title. This innings was highlighted by 11 fours and a six, demonstrating her explosive batting prowess. India triumphed by seven wickets, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
India's Top T20I POTM Winners
Mithali Raj holds the record for the most Player of the Match awards in Women's T20 Internationals for India, with a total of 12 from 89 matches played between 2006 and 2019. Harmanpreet Kaur follows closely with 11 awards in 184 matches, while Shafali Verma currently ranks third with 8 awards in 92 matches.
Verma on Her Match-Winning Knock
"The ball was holding a bit at the start, so I tried to play along the ground and take singles. The coach also advised me on how to approach such conditions. They bowled well initially. It was a good knock. I maintained my composure, played along the ground, and the ball was coming on nicely. I know I can score runs if I focus on playing the ball on the ground. Acceptance is key; recognizing your weaknesses is essential for becoming a better cricketer," Verma shared after the match.
Match Highlights: India vs Sri Lanka
In the match, Verma delivered a stunning, unbeaten performance, leading India to chase down a target of 129 runs in just 11.5 overs against Sri Lanka during the second T20I held in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
Mandhana provided some early support but was dismissed for 14 runs off 11 balls, with India losing their first wicket at 29 runs.
After Mandhana's exit, Jemimah Rodrigues, who had also excelled in the previous match, joined Verma at the crease. The pair quickly took charge, propelling India to 68 runs during the powerplay. Both batters attacked the bowlers confidently, maintaining a run rate well above the required pace. Verma and Rodrigues added 58 runs for the second wicket before Rodrigues was out for 26 runs off 15 balls, which included four boundaries and a six.
Verma continued her aggressive approach, and after Rodrigues' dismissal, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur came to bat but was dismissed by Malki Madara when just one run was needed for victory.