Shafali Verma creates history, surpasses Laura Wolvaardt for major T20I record

Shafali Verma bats during the women's gold medal match. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Shafali Verma continued her sensational run in T20I cricket in 2026, rewriting another record during India's Asian Games gold-medal clash against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.The India opener became the highest run-scorer in a calendar year in women's T20Is, surpassing South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt. Shafali's 29-ball 48 in the gold-medal match took her tally for the year to 863 runs, moving past Wolvaardt's 824.

Shafali's innings at Korogi Sports Park featured three fours and three sixes and came at a strike rate of 165.52. Although she fell short of another half-century, her latest contribution extended a remarkable run in the shortest format.In 24 T20Is in 2026, Shafali has now scored 863 runs at an average of 39.22 and a strike rate of 162.83. Her tally includes one century and seven fifties, with a best score of 100 not out.Wolvaardt, meanwhile, has scored 824 runs in 24 matches this year at an average of 43.36 and a strike rate of 138.72. Her tally includes two centuries and four fifties, with a best of 126 not out.

Most runs in a calendar year in Women’s T20Is

• 863 - Shafali Verma (IND-W) in 2026*
• 824 - Laura Wolvaardt (SA-W) in 2026
• 800 - Natasha Miles (HKG-W) in 2026
• 779 - Esha Oza (UAE-W) in 2025
• 779 - Yasmin Daswani (HKG-W) in 2026

Shafali's incredible knockout run

Shafali's record-breaking year has been driven by an extraordinary sequence of performances in knockout matches since the 2025 Women's World Cup final.

After scoring 87 against South Africa in the World Cup final, she has maintained her aggressive approach across the Asia Cup and Asian Games. Her scores in her last five T20Is read 64, 68, 40 not out, 100 not out and 48.She scored 64 off 40 balls against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup semifinal before following it with 68 off 39 in the final against Sri Lanka.

At the Asian Games, Shafali smashed 40 not out from just 15 balls against Japan in the quarterfinal before producing a spectacular unbeaten 100 off 49 balls against Bangladesh in the semifinal.Her 48 against Sri Lanka in the final completed an extraordinary stretch of six innings in which she has amassed 407 runs at an average of 101.75, including one century and three fifties.Shafali Verma’s last 5 T20I scores

• 64 (40), Asia Cup SF
• 68 (39), Asia Cup Final
• 40* (15), Asian Games QF
• 100* (49), Asian Games SF
• 48 (29), Asian Games Final

Mandhana-Shafali extend partnership record

Shafali's latest milestone came on the same day she and Smriti Mandhana extended their record as the most prolific partnership in women's T20I cricket.The pair's opening stand of 99 against Sri Lanka took their aggregate partnership tally beyond 4,000 runs. Mandhana and Shafali have now combined for 4,080 runs in 107 matches at an average of 39.23, including six century partnerships and 26 fifty-plus stands.The UAE pair of Esha Oza and Theertha Satish are second on the list with 2,949 partnership runs, followed by Australia's Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney with 2,720.

Most partnership runs in Women’s T20Is (any wicket)

• 4080 - Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma (IND-W)
• 2949 - Esha Oza, Theertha Satish (UAE-W)
• 2720 - Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney (AUS-W)
• 2556 - Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine (NZ-W)