Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop commended Indian opener Shafali Verma for scoring her maiden century in a women’s Asian Games cricket semifinal match, describing it as a ‘due reward’ for her strong form in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) over recent months.
Verma’s performance in knockout matches remained impressive as she became the first Indian woman to achieve a century in the Asian Games and the second overall, following Yashasvi Jaiswal. Against Bangladesh in the semifinal, she scored an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls, featuring three fours and nine sixes. This innings brought her total T20I sixes to 100, making her the second Indian to reach this milestone.
On social media platform X, Ian Bishop wrote: “Nice run of form in T20 international cricket in the last 3 months for Shafali Verma. A first white ball international century being a T20i century is due reward.”
Over 118 T20Is and 117 innings, Verma has accumulated 3,277 runs at an average of 30.06 with a strike rate of 140.70. Her record includes one century and 21 half-centuries, with a highest score of 100*.
Verma’s century marks her as the third Indian woman to reach this milestone in T20Is. Previously, Smriti Mandhana recorded the highest individual score for India Women with 124 against Hong Kong in Dubai in 2026 and 112 against England at Trent Bridge in 2025, while Harmanpreet Kaur scored 103 against New Zealand in Providence in 2018.
With nine sixes against Bangladesh, Verma advanced in the list of most sixes in women’s T20Is, now tallying 102 sixes. She joins New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and West Indies’ Deandra Dottin, who lead with 134 sixes each. Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu has 120, and Smriti Mandhana has 100 sixes.
Verma also equalled the record for the most 50-plus scores in a calendar year in women’s T20Is, with eight such scores in 2026. This matches Smriti Mandhana’s record from 2024. Mithali Raj (seven in 2018) and Hong Kong’s Natasha Miles (seven in 2026) follow closely.
Among the leading run-scorers in women’s T20Is this year, Verma has accumulated 815 runs in 2026, placing her second behind South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt who has scored 824 runs. Natasha Miles is third with 800 runs.
Verma’s 35 sixes in 2026 represent the highest number hit in a calendar year in women’s T20Is, with a frequency of one six every 14.31 balls. Chamari Athapaththu follows with 32 sixes in 2024, striking one every 17.75 balls.
Her 49-ball century ranks among the fastest in women’s T20Is among teams with Full Member status. The record remains with West Indies’ Deandra Dottin, who scored 100 off 38 balls against South Africa in 2010. Verma’s effort is tied with Harmanpreet Kaur’s 49-ball century against New Zealand in 2018.
Verma has demonstrated consistent performances in high-pressure knockout matches for India. In her last five knockout appearances, she scored 87 off 78 balls in the World Cup final, 64 off 40 in the Asia Cup semifinal, 68 off 39 in the Asia Cup final, 40 off 16 in the Asian Games 2026 quarterfinal, and 100 off 49 in the Asian Games 2026 semifinal.
In the Asian Games 2026 semifinal, the Women in Blue posted a total of 195 runs against Bangladesh, with Verma’s century as the highlight. Smriti Mandhana contributed 37 off 19 balls, and Harmanpreet Kaur added 40 off 33 balls, aiding India in setting a strong target.
The winner of the India-Bangladesh semifinal will face Sri Lanka in the gold medal match, following Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first semifinal.