New Delhi: Shafali Verma continued her sizzling form at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a fluid 34-ball 53 against Bangladesh to not only lead India to a 5-wicket victory but also cement her place in the all-time list of the most decorated players in the country’s tournament history.With her winning goal at Old Trafford, Shafali joins India’s elite squad after winning the Player of the Match award for the third time in Women’s T20 World Cup history Harmanpreet Kaur (4), now with Mandana swear Mitali Raj (3 each).The milestone ranks Shafali among India’s most consistent big-match performers in global events, underscoring her transformation from teenage sensation to tournament-defining opener.
500 runs milestone, record hit rate
The 22-year-old also crossed the 500-run mark in her career at the Women’s T20 World Cup, achieving the feat at a stunning strike rate of 133.07 – the highest by any batsman who has scored more than 500 runs in the tournament’s history.She now leads the list of 23 batsmen to cross the 500-mark mark, ahead of Australia captain Alyssa Healy (129.39), underlining her unparalleled scoring pace on the global stage.Shafali’s knock once again set the tone for India’s chase and she struck from the start to help her team take a 63-1 lead in the powerplay and effectively knock Bangladesh out of the tournament early.Looking back on her match, Shafali said she was pleased with her performance but admitted she would have preferred to remain undefeated. “I’m very happy with the way I batted today. But it would be even happier for me if I didn’t get out,” she said after receiving the POTM award.
Indian women’s football team wins most POTM awards at T20 World Cup
- 4 – Harmanpreet Kaur
- 3 – Smriti Mandana
- 3 – Mithali Raj
- 3 – Shafali Verma
Powerplay dominance vs India’s smooth chase
Chasing 137, India got off to a bright start with Shafali punishing any short or full ball and immediately putting Bangladesh under pressure. She reached her 50 in just 29 balls, the second fastest in India’s Women’s T20 World Cup history, but fell to 53 not long after.Despite her dismissal, India maintained control throughout the chase. Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15) provided the final push while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma finished calmly as India reached the target in 16.5 overs.Earlier, Bangladesh posted a record of 136/8 thanks to the contributions of Juairiya Ferdous (33) and captain Nigar Sultana (32). However, the Indian bowling team, led by Radha Yadav’s 3/28 and backed by Shree Charani’s late knock, ensured that the total remained achievable.
