Shafali Verma Creates History As India Opener Becomes First Woman Cricketer To Score Asian Games Century
Shafali Verma blazes into history, becoming the first-ever cricketer to smash a century in the Asian Games women's cricket competition. Her maiden WT20I hundred on September 20, 2026, against Bangladesh Women in the 2nd semi-final, propelled India Women into the gold medal match at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
India opener Shafali Verma has etched her name into the record books, becoming the first woman cricketer to score a century in Asian Games history. The 22-year-old reached the milestone during Indiaβs semi-final clash against Bangladesh at the 2026 Asian Games, simultaneously registering her maiden Womenβs Twenty20 International (WT20I) hundred. Smriti Mandhana Becomes Leading Run-Getter in Women's T20I History, Achieves Feat During Asian Games Japan 2026.
Shafali Verma Creates History
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β BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) September 20, 2026
Masterclass in Power Hitting
Opting to bat first after captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss, India seized immediate control of the contest. Verma set the tone from the outset, combining destructive boundary striking with sharp rotation of the strike.
The 22-year-old reached her half-century from just 24 deliveries, clearing the ropes with ease against Bangladeshβs frontline spin attack. She maintained that tempo through the middle overs, accelerating toward three figures without offering a single clear chance.
Verma brought up her historic maiden WT20I hundred off only 49 balls,Β to remain unbeatenΒ on exactly 100. Her blistering innings featured three boundaries and nine massive sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 204.08.
India Post Imposing Total
Verma's fireworks anchored India to a formidable total of 195 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. She shared a brisk opening stand with Smriti Mandhana, who contributed 37 runs before falling in the fourth over.
Bangladesh's bowling unit struggled to curb the scoring rate on a true batting surface, with Nahida Akter and Sultana Khatun bearing the brunt of the onslaught in the early powerplay. The commanding target left Bangladesh facing a steep chase to keep their gold medal aspirations alive.Β IND vs BAN, Women's Asian Games 2026 Semifinal Toss Report and Playing XIs: Harmanpreet Kaur Elects To Bat, India Remain Unchanged.
Milestone Moments in Women's Asian GamesΒ Cricket
While centuries have been registered in the menβs competition at the Asian Games β notably by Nepalβs Kushal Malla and Indiaβs Yashasvi Jaiswal during the 2023 Games in Hangzhou β triple digits had never previously been achieved in the women's event. The previous highest individual score in women's Asian Games cricket had stood in the 80s.
For Verma, the innings represents a significant personal breakthrough. Despite registering 22 WT20I half-centuries in her international career, triple figures in the shortest format had eluded her until this landmark display in the semi-final.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2026 12:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
