NEW DELHI: Shafali Verma continued her red-hot run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, hitting a fluent 53 off 34 balls against Bangladesh to not only lead India to a five-wicket win but also cement her place among the country’s most decorated performers in the tournament’s history.With her match-winning knock at Old Trafford, Shafali collected her third Player of the Match award in Women’s T20 World Cup history, joining an elite Indian group led by Harmanpreet Kaur (4), and now level with Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj (3 each).The feat places Shafali firmly among India’s most consistent big-match performers at the global event, underlining his evolution from a teenage sensation to a tournament-defining opener.
500 run milestone with a record strike rate
The 22-year-old also crossed 500 career runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup during the innings, achieving the feat at a remarkable strike rate of 133.07 – the highest among all batsmen with 500 or more runs in the tournament’s history.She now leads a list of 23 batsmen who have crossed the 500-run mark, ahead of Australian captain Alyssa Healy (129.39), highlighting her unmatched scoring rate on the global stage.Shafali’s knock again set the tone for India’s chase as they attacked from the start, helping the team race to 63/1 in the powerplay and effectively shut Bangladesh out of the contest early on.Reflecting on her innings, Shafali said she was happy with her form but admitted she would have preferred to remain unbeaten. “Very happy with the way I fought today. But if it won’t be out, it will be that much happier for me,” he said after receiving the POTM award.
Most POTM awards for India Women in T20 World Cup
- 4 – Harmanpreet Kaur
- 3 – Smriti Mandhana
- 3 – Mithali Raj
- 3 – Shafali Verma
Powerplay dominance and India’s smooth chase
Chasing 137, India made a blistering start, with Shafali punishing anything short or full and immediately putting Bangladesh under pressure. She reached her fifty in just 29 balls – the second-fastest by an Indian in Women’s T20 World Cup history – before falling soon after for 53.Despite his dismissal, India remained in control throughout the chase. Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15) provided the late push, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma finished the proceedings quietly as India reached the target in 16.5 overs.Earlier, Bangladesh had posted 136/8, built around contributions from Juairiya Ferdous (33) and skipper Nigar Sultana (32). However, India’s bowling unit, led by Radha Yadav’s 3/28 and supported by Shree Charani’s late knocks, ensured that the total remained within reach.