Shafali Verma has become India’s leading run-scorer in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history. She reached this mark during the semi-final of the 2026 tournament against Bangladesh. The match was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India lost opener Smriti Mandhana early. Mandhana was out for just 2 runs in the second over. Verma then took control of the innings. She scored 64 runs off 40 balls. Her knock included seven fours and three sixes. Her half-century helped India reach 149 for 6 on a slow pitch. That total proved enough. India won by 40 runs and reached the final.
During this innings, Verma moved past Mandhana to become India’s top run-scorer in the tournament’s history. It was another big achievement in a strong run of form for her.
Just days earlier, Verma made history against Pakistan in the group stage. She became the youngest and fastest player to reach 3,000 runs in Women’s T20 Internationals. She reached the mark in 2,182 balls faced. This broke the record held by Australia’s Alyssa Healy. Verma was 22 years and 220 days old. She surpassed Ireland’s Gaby Lewis, who was 24 years and 347 days old when she set the previous youngest mark.
Verma finished the group stage as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament. She scored 104 runs at a strike rate of 176.27. She is the 16th player overall to reach 3,000 runs in Women’s T20Is. She is the third Indian to do so, after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur.
The youngest players to reach 3,000 runs in Women’s T20Is are Shafali Verma at 22 years and 220 days, Gaby Lewis at 24 years and 347 days, Esha Oza at 27 years and 139 days, Smriti Mandhana at 27 years and 171 days, and Hayley Matthews at 27 years and 347 days.
India Beat Bangladesh by 40 Runs as Shafali Verma’s 64 Powers Women’s Asia Cup Final Berth
India beat Bangladesh by 40 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final. The match was played in Dubai on Thursday. Shafali Verma scored 64 runs off 40 balls. Her innings helped India reach the final. India will now play for the title.
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first. India lost Smriti Mandhana early. She was out for just 2 runs. Shafali Verma and Pratika Rawal then steadied the innings. They added 50 runs for the second wicket. Rawal scored 20 off 24 balls before she was caught at cover. India were 58 for 2 at that point.
Shafali continued to attack. She reached her fifty off 35 balls. It was her 20th fifty in the format. She hit seven fours and three sixes in her innings. She was dropped three times and also survived a run-out chance. She was finally out for 64. She was caught at deep mid-wicket off Sultana Khatun.
India were 92 for 3 after 14 overs and needed a strong finish. Harmanpreet Kaur struggled at first. She made only 6 runs from her first 18 balls. But she found her form later. She scored 18 from her next 10 balls. She finished unbeaten on 24 off 28 balls. Richa Ghosh scored 21 off 16 balls, while Deepti Sharma hit a quick 13 off 6 balls. Her cameo included a four and a six. India scored 53 runs in the final five overs. They had scored only 51 in the previous nine overs. India posted 149 for 7.
Bangladesh made a steady start in their chase. They were 26 without loss in the sixth over. Shree Charani then broke the opening stand. She dismissed Juairiya Ferdous for 14. Deepti Sharma then took three of the next four wickets. She kept Bangladesh from building any momentum. Bangladesh’s lower order hit a few late boundaries but the asking rate had climbed too high. Nandni Sharma bowled the final over, taking two wickets. One of them was a hit-wicket dismissal of Rabeya Khan. Bangladesh ended on 109 for 7.
Shorna Akter was unbeaten on 22 for Bangladesh. Deepti Sharma finished with figures of 3 for 26. Sultana Khatun took 2 for 30 for Bangladesh.
FAQs
Q. Who became India’s leading run-scorer in the Women’s Asia Cup?
A. Shafali Verma became India’s leading run-scorer.
Q. How many runs did Shafali Verma score against Bangladesh?
A. Shafali scored 64 runs off 40 balls.
Q. How many runs did India beat Bangladesh by?
A. India won the semi-final by 40 runs.
Q. When did Shafali Verma reach 3,000 T20I runs?
A. Shafali reached 3,000 runs against Pakistan.
Q. How many wickets did Deepti Sharma take against Bangladesh?
A. Deepti Sharma took three wickets for 26 runs.
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