Shafali Verma Smashes Maiden T20I Ton with Nine Sixes in Asian Games Semis
Shafali Verma announced herself on the biggest stage with a blistering unbeaten century in the Asian Games 2026 women's cricket semifinal against Bangladesh, powering India into the final with a display of raw power hitting that left the opposition shell-shocked. The young opener smashed her way to 100 not out off just 49 balls, an innings littered with towering sixes that had the crowd on its feet from start to finish.
What made the knock even more special was the fact that it marked Shafali's maiden century in T20 International cricket, a milestone many felt was overdue given her explosive talent since bursting onto the scene as a teenager. She reached the landmark by clearing the ropes with disdain, finishing with nine maximums in her innings, a number that rewrote the record books for the tournament and put her name among the biggest hitters in the women's game.
Nine Sixes Set New Benchmark
The nine sixes Shafali struck during her innings created a fresh record, as CricketBuzz understands from tournament statisticians tracking the biggest hitting performances at the Games. Her aggressive intent was evident from the very first over, as she targeted the Bangladesh bowlers with calculated aggression, mixing lofted drives with brutal pulls over deep midwicket and long-on.
India's batting unit built around her innings to post a commanding total, setting up a dominant position heading into the summit clash. Teammates and support staff were seen celebrating enthusiastically in the dugout as milestone after milestone fell, with Shafali barely pausing to acknowledge the applause as she kept the scoreboard ticking at a furious pace.
As CricketBuzz reported earlier this tournament, Shafali has been among the most consistent performers for India in the shorter format, and this innings only cements her growing reputation as one of the most destructive batters in world cricket. With the final now on the horizon, all eyes will be on whether she can produce another special performance to help India clinch gold. Stay with CricketBuzz for more updates as the tournament reaches its climax.