Asian Games: Shafali Verma hits historic T20I hundred as India beat Bangladesh

[[{“value”:”

Indian opener Shafali Verma scripted history on Sunday at the Korogi Sports Park, becoming the first women’s batter to score a century in the Asian Games during the second semi-final clash against Bangladesh.

The right-handed batter smashed an unbeaten 100 off 49 deliveries, featuring three boundaries and nine sixes. Her explosive effort pushed India to a formidable 195-run total in the Asian Games 2026 semi-final, with supporting efforts coming from Smriti Mandhana (37 off 19) and Harmanpreet Kaur (40 off 33). The victory sets up a gold medal showdown against Sri Lanka, who defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the opening semi-final.

Shafali’s milestone marks the third T20I hundred for India Women, following Smriti Mandhana‘s top score of 124 against Hong Kong in 2026 and 112 against England in 2025, alongside Harmanpreet Kaur’s 103 against New Zealand in 2018.

By hitting nine sixes, Shafali reached 102 career T20I sixes, joining a list led by Sophie Devine and Deandra Dottin (134 each), Chamari Athapaththu (120), and Mandhana (100).

Shafali Verma’s record-breaking numbers

Shafali Verma’s 49-ball century stands as the joint-fastest T20I hundred by an Indian woman, matching Harmanpreet Kaur‘s 49-ball effort against New Zealand in 2018, trailing only Deandra Dottin’s 38-ball record against South Africa in 2010 among Full Member nations.

Shafali has also enjoyed a record-setting 2026 calendar year. Her eight 50-plus scores in 2026 equal Smriti Mandhana’s 2024 record, ahead of Mithali Raj (seven in 2018) and Hong Kong’s Natasha Miles (seven in 2026). She currently sits second in overall 2026 T20I runs with 815, trailing South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt (824) while staying ahead of Miles (800). Furthermore, her 35 sixes in 2026 mark a calendar-year record, hitting one every 14.31 balls.

The knock cements her remarkable reliability during high-stakes elimination matches. Across her last five knockout outings, Verma has produced scores of 87 off 78 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 quarterfinal, and 100 off 49 in the semi-final. Indian women’s team will face Sri Lanka in the final on Tuesday.

(With inputs from ANI)

“}]]