Shafali Verma Makes History with Century in Asian Games Semi-Final
Historic Achievement by Shafali Verma
Indian cricketer Shafali Verma has etched her name in history as the first female batter to score a century in the Asian Games. She accomplished this remarkable feat during the second semi-final against Bangladesh at Korogi Sports Park on Sunday.
The right-handed batter finished her innings with an impressive 100 runs off just 49 balls, which included three fours and nine sixes. This performance not only secured her place in the record books but also highlighted her prowess in women's T20 internationals.
Record-Breaking Performance
Shafali's century marks the third hundred for Indian women in T20 internationals. Previously, Smriti Mandhana held the record for the highest individual score for India Women with 124 runs against Hong Kong in Dubai in 2026, followed by her 112 against England in 2025 and Harmanpreet Kaur's 103 against New Zealand in 2018.
With her nine sixes against Bangladesh, Shafali has climbed the ranks in the list of most sixes in women's T20Is. She now boasts a total of 102 sixes, joining the elite company of New Zealand's Sophie Devine and West Indies' Deandra Dottin, who each have 134 sixes. Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu follows with 120 sixes, while Smriti Mandhana has 100.
Consistent Performer
Shafali has also made her mark as one of the leading scorers in women's T20Is this year, with 815 runs in 2026, placing her second on the calendar-year run-scoring list, just behind South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, who has 824 runs. Natasha Miles is in third with 800 runs.
Her tally of 35 sixes in 2026 is the highest in a calendar year for women's T20Is, with a six occurring every 14.31 balls. This performance is followed by Chamari Athapaththu, who hit 32 sixes in 2024 at a rate of one six every 17.75 balls. Shafali's 49-ball century also ranks among the fastest in women's T20Is, tied with Harmanpreet Kaur's record against New Zealand in 2018.
Clutch Performances in Knockout Matches
Verma has consistently excelled in high-stakes knockout matches for India, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure. In her last five knockout appearances, she scored 87 runs off 78 balls in the World Cup final, 64 off 40 in the Asia Cup semi-final, 68 off 39 in the Asia Cup final, 40 off 16 in the Asian Games 2026 quarterfinal, and her recent 100 off 49 in the semi-final.
India Sets a High Target
In the women's cricket semi-final at the Asian Games 2026, the Indian team posted an impressive total of 195 runs against Bangladesh, largely thanks to Verma's maiden T20I century. Alongside her, Smriti Mandhana contributed 37 runs off 19 balls, and Harmanpreet Kaur added 40 runs off 33 balls, helping India establish a formidable target.
The winner of the India-Bangladesh semi-final will advance to face Sri Lanka in the gold medal match, following Sri Lanka's victory over Pakistan by eight wickets in the first semi-final.