Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana Create World Record With 96-Run Stand vs Zimbabwe

Mandhana, Shafali create world record [Source: AFP]

Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, the Indian pair, broke a huge world record in the second T20I of the series against Zimbabwe in Raipur. Zimbabwe set a target of 103, and it was chased without breaking a sweat as the Indian pair made light work of it.

On Sunday, Mandhana and Shafali created history as they broke the record for the most 50-plus stands for any wicket in a calendar year in Women’s T20Is.

Mandhana-Shafali registered their 9th fifty-plus stand in 2026

As a pair, the Indian openers have enjoyed batting together in 2026, and it was evident as they registered a 96-run opening stand in the second T20I and went past Hong Kong’s Yasmin Daswani and Natasha Miles to attain the feat of most fifty-plus stands for any wicket in a calendar year (9).

Most 50+ Partnerships in a Calendar Year in WT20Is 

9 – Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma (India), 2026* 

8 – Yasmin Daswani and Natasha Miles (Hong Kong), 2026 

7 – Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma (India), 2024

Interestingly, amongst the full-member nations, Mandhana and Shafali held the previous record (7 fifty-plus scores in a calendar year).

In the same match, Mandhana and Shafali became the first batting pair to score over 1,000 partnership runs in a calendar year.

---

ALSO READ

Niki Prasad Creates Huge World Record For India Women in 2nd T20I Vs Zimbabwe

---

Shafali breaks Mandhana's fifty-plus score record vs Zimbabwe

Shafali Verma was at her imperial best as he broke Smriti Mandhana’s record of most fifty-plus scores in T20Is in a calendar year.

Most 50+ Scores in a Calendar Year in WT20Is

9 – Shafali Verma (India), 2026*

8 – Smriti Mandhana (India), 2024 

7 – Mithali Raj (India), 2018 

7 – Natasha Miles (Hong Kong), 2026

While Mandhana had slammed 8 fifty-plus scores in 2024, her opening partner surpassed feat on Sunday.

How Mandhana-Shafali helped India seal the series

Just like the first T20I, Zimbabwe batted first, but unlike the first game, they struggled with the bat and could only post a paltry 102.

Both the Indian openers failed in the first T20I, but on Sunday, they punished the Zimbabwean bowlers as they added 96 runs and won the game single-handedly.

While Shafali scored 55 off 25 balls, Mandhana, the newly appointed Indian captain, remained unbeaten at 47.

---

ALSO READ

Imam-ul-Haq Granted Permission For Domestic Return Amid Gambling Investigation: Report

---