Shafali Verma Shines with Century in Asian Games Cricket Final

Shafali Verma's Historic T20I Century

In a thrilling finale at the Asian Games cricket tournament, Indian opener Shafali Verma expressed her joy after scoring a match-winning century against Bangladesh. She emphasized the significance of 'time, patience, and belief' in achieving her first T20I century, reflecting on the rewarding journey it took to reach this milestone.

Continuing her remarkable form in T20Is this year, Shafali's outstanding performance helped India secure a spot in the gold medal match against Sri Lanka. Her unbeaten 100 runs off just 49 balls included three fours and an impressive nine sixes, marking her first international century.

On Instagram, she shared her excitement, stating, 'Dreamed it. Manifested it. Worked for it. Hitting my first ever T20I hundred meant more than I can put into words. It took a lot of time, patience, and belief, but some dreams are worth waiting for. Feeling truly blessed and grateful to finally live this moment. Now, onto the Finals.'

Match Highlights and Performance

In the match, India chose to bat first, setting a formidable target of 195/4. Shafali received valuable support from her opening partner Smriti Mandhana, who scored 37 runs off 19 balls, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed 40 runs off 33 balls.

During Bangladesh's innings, they were bowled out for a mere 81 runs in 15.4 overs. Deepti Sharma (3/7), Nandani Sharma (3/25), and Sree Charani (2/7) were the standout bowlers for India.

With this performance, Shafali has now played 118 T20Is, accumulating 3,277 runs at an average of 30.06 and a strike rate of 140.70, which includes one century and 21 fifties, with her highest score being 100*.

Records and Achievements

Shafali's century makes her the third Indian woman to score a T20I century, following Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. Mandhana previously held the record for the highest individual score for India Women with 124 against Hong Kong in 2026.

With her nine sixes against Bangladesh, Shafali has climbed the ranks in the list of most sixes in women's T20Is, now totaling 104 sixes. She joins New Zealand's Sophie Devine and West Indies' Deandra Dottin, who both have 134 sixes each.

Additionally, Shafali has matched Smriti Mandhana's record of eight 50-plus scores in a calendar year, achieving this in 2026. She is currently one of the leading run-scorers in women's T20Is this year, with 815 runs, just behind South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt.

Consistent Performance in Knockout Matches

Shafali has consistently delivered in high-pressure knockout matches for India. In her last five knockout appearances, she has scored 87 in the World Cup final, 64 in the Asia Cup semi-final, 68 in the Asia Cup final, 40 in the Asian Games 2026 quarterfinal, and her recent 100 in the semi-final, showcasing her ability to perform on the biggest stages.