Shafali Verma, once 15-year-old debutant, now India's youngest to 100 T20Is
SAW vs INDW, 2nd T20I: At 22 years and 81 days, Shafali Verma became the youngest Indian to play 100 T20Is, breaking the record of Jemimah Rodrigues.
Shafali Verma has become the youngest Indian to play 100 T20Is, reaching the milestone at 22 years and 81 days. The youngster got there in the second match of the five-game T20I series against South Africa on Sunday, April 19, at Kingsmead in Durban.
South Africa vs India, 2nd Women's T20I, Updates | Scorecard
In doing so, Shafali broke the record previously held by Jemimah Rodrigues, who had reached her 100th T20I at 23 years and 327 days during the Women’s Asia Cup 2024.
Overall, Shafali is the third youngest to the milestone, behind Rwanda’s Gisele Ishimwe and Henriette Ishimwe. She also became only the fifth Indian woman to feature in 100 T20Is, joining Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues.
Youngest to play 100 Women’s T20Is
- Gisele Ishimwe (RWA) - 20y 362d
- Henriette Ishimwe (RWA) - 21y 233d
- Shafali Verma (IND) - 22y 81d
SHAFALI VERMA KEEPS RISING
Shafali burst onto the international scene in 2019, debuting for India at just 15 years and 239 days. Fearless by instinct and explosive in strokeplay, she quickly carved a reputation as a batter unafraid to take on the best, becoming the country’s youngest debutant and one of its brightest young prospects.
Her early breakthrough came in the 2019 Women’s T20 Challenge, where she turned heads playing for Velocity under Mithali Raj. Up against seasoned international bowlers, Shafali’s clean hitting signalled she was ready for the big stage, accelerating her rise into the national side.
Since then, she has evolved into a vital top-order presence across formats. In 2024, she underlined her red-ball credentials with a blistering century against South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the then fastest in Women’s Tests, showcasing a game that extends far beyond her T20 roots.
Big occasions have often brought out her best. During India’s Women’s World Cup triumph last year, Shafali delivered a defining all-round performance in the final against South Africa in Navi Mumbai, scoring 87 and taking the wickets of Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus.
From a record-breaking teenager to a proven match-winner on the global stage, Shafali’s journey has been shaped by bold intent, rapid evolution and an ever-expanding role in India’s cricketing future.