# Shafali Verma scores maiden T20I century at Asian Games 2026

2026-09-20T08:11:46+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls, her maiden T20I century, to power India to 195/4 against Bangladesh in the women's Asian Games 2026 semifinal. She hit three fours and nine sixes, becoming the first player to score a hundred at the women's Asian Games. The 22-year-old also set a calendar-year record with her 35th six of 2026, surpassing Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu. Smriti Mandhana, who scored 37 off 19 balls, became the highest run-scorer in women's T20Is during the innings. She went past New Zealand's Suzie Bates to reach 4,788 runs in 171 innings. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 40 off 33 balls, sharing a 94-run stand with Shafali to take the game away from Bangladesh. India now await the result of the semifinal to see their opponents for the gold medal match.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Shafali Verma's 49-ball century is the headline across all four sources, but the coverage diverges in what else it foregrounds. Sportstar and Telangana Today lead with her Asian Games record, framing the innings as a historic tournament milestone. Rediff splits its reporting into two articles, one focused entirely on the batting fireworks and another on Smriti Mandhana's concurrent milestone of becoming the highest T20I run-scorer. This dual-story approach ensures neither achievement is buried, but it also means a reader seeing only one article misses the other record. The mandhana record is a significant sub-plot that both Sportstar and Telangana Today mention, yet Rediff's decision to give it a standalone piece signals its news value. The balanced reading: the match produced two landmark feats, not just one. India's final total of 195/4, built on a 94-run stand between Shafali and Harmanpreet Kaur, sets the stage for Bangladesh's chase.

## Coverage

- sportstar.thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://sportstar.thehindu.com/asian-games/news/shafali-verma-scores-first-t20i-century-india-vs-bangladesh-asian-games-2026-semifinal-womens-cricket/article71487216.ece>
  Leads with the century and records, neutral framing of innings as a sporting achievement.
- rediff.com (neutral report) <https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/asian-games-cricket-shafali-unleashes-9-sixes-in-stunning-49-ball-ton/20260920.htm>
  Entire article dedicated to Mandhana's run-scoring record, framing as a historic milestone.
- rediff.com (neutral report) <https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/smriti-mandhana-creates-t20i-history-at-asian-games/20260920.htm>
  Entire article dedicated to Mandhana's run-scoring record, framing as a historic milestone.
- telanganatoday.com (neutral report) <https://telanganatoday.com/asian-games-shafalis-record-century-powers-india-to-195-4-against-bangladesh>
  Leads with Shafali's century, includes sixes record and Mandhana milestone in the same piece.

Tags: Asian Games 2026, Bangladesh women's cricket team, Hangzhou, Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana
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