Shafali Verma Profile, Career & Stats

Shafali Verma is one of the most explosive batters to emerge from Indian women’s cricket. Known for her fearless approach and aggressive strokeplay, the Haryana-born opener became the youngest cricketer to represent India in T20Is at just 15 years and 285 days.

Her ability to dominate bowlers from the outset quickly established her as a key member of India’s batting lineup. Whether in international cricket, age-group tournaments, or franchise leagues, Shafali has consistently showcased a rare blend of power, confidence, and maturity beyond her years.

Shafali Verma T20I Career

Shafali Verma burst onto the international scene on September 24, 2019, when she made her T20I debut against South Africa at the age of just 15 years and 285 days, becoming the youngest Indian cricketer to play a T20I match. Although she was dismissed for a duck in her first innings, selectors and experts remained convinced of her immense potential.

Before her debut, Shafali had impressed in exhibition matches during IPL 2019 and later in the Women’s T20 Challenge, where her fearless batting caught the attention of the national selectors. Her arrival marked the beginning of a new era of aggressive batting in Indian women’s cricket.

In March 2021, Verma achieved a significant milestone when she became the No.1-ranked batter in ICC Women’s T20I rankings. The achievement came after a series of impactful performances, including a blistering 47-run knock against South Africa.

At just 17 years of age, she became one of the youngest players to reach the summit of the T20I batting rankings. Her rise to the top reflected her consistency and ability to dominate bowlers across conditions, cementing her reputation as one of the most dangerous batters in women’s cricket.

Later the same year, Shafali played a pivotal role in India’s historic run to the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. Opening the batting, she provided explosive starts throughout the tournament and finished as India’s leading run-scorer with 163 runs at a strike rate of over 158.

Her fearless approach put opposition bowlers under pressure and helped India reach their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup final. Although India lost to Australia in front of a record crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Shafali emerged as one of the tournament’s breakout stars and announced herself on the global stage.

Shafali Verma Test Career

Verma made her long-awaited Test debut against England in Bristol on June 16, 2021, and immediately showcased her adaptability in the longest format. Batting with remarkable composure, she scored 96 runs in the first innings and narrowly missed out on a century.

Despite falling just four runs short of a memorable hundred on debut, her innings displayed exceptional temperament and technique. She followed it up with another crucial contribution in the second innings, proving that her aggressive style could be successfully adjusted to the demands of Test cricket.

The youngster’s red-ball credentials reached new heights during the one-off Test against South Africa in Chennai in 2024. After narrowly missing a century on debut, she ensured there would be no repeat as she converted her maiden Test hundred into a magnificent double century.

Her marathon innings of 205 runs made her one of the few Indian women to score a Test double hundred and highlighted her evolution from a fearless stroke-maker into a complete batter capable of dominating across formats. The knock remains one of the finest innings in Indian women’s Test cricket history.

Shafali Verma ODI Career

Verma made her ODI debut on June 27, 2021, against England during the India Women tour of England. 

Despite her success in T20 cricket and Tests, Shafali faced a challenging phase in her ODI career leading up to the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The selectors preferred the in-form Pratika Rawal as India’s first-choice opening partner, leaving Shafali out of the initial World Cup plans.

That being said, fortune turned in Shafali’s favour when Pratika Rawal suffered an ankle injury shortly before the World Cup semi-final, forcing India to make a late change. Called into the playing XI under immense pressure, Verma seized the opportunity in spectacular fashion.

She delivered match-winning performances in the knockout stages, including a crucial innings in the final that helped India secure their maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup title. Her remarkable comeback story transformed disappointment into triumph and reaffirmed her status as one of India’s biggest-match players, capable of delivering when it matters the most.

Captained India to Championship in Inaugural U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup

Shafali’s leadership qualities came to the forefront when she captained India in the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2023. Leading a talented young squad, she guided India through an unbeaten campaign and lifted the historic trophy after defeating England in the final.

Her captaincy combined tactical awareness with calm leadership, while her performances with the bat inspired the team throughout the tournament. The triumph marked India’s first-ever ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup title and established Shafali as a future leadership prospect for the senior national team.

Shafali Verma WPL Career

In the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Shafali Verma has been one of the marquee players for the Delhi Capitals. Forming a destructive opening partnership with Meg Lanning, she played a major role in Delhi reaching consecutive WPL finals.

Her attacking batting style has made her one of the most entertaining players in the competition, regularly providing rapid starts and changing the course of matches within a few overs. The WPL has further enhanced her reputation as one of the premier T20 batters in women’s cricket and provided a platform to showcase her skills against the world’s best players.

(As of July 2026)