Raipur, Oct 18: Shafali Verma does not believe in quiet evenings. On a pleasant Sunday night at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, India’s vice-captain produced an innings of breathtaking audacity, a 25-ball 55 that sealed the T20I series against Zimbabwe and carved her name into the record books.
Chasing a modest 103, India gunned it down in just 8.5 overs, winning by nine wickets with a staggering 67 balls to spare. With the 2-0 lead, the three-match series is already in the bag, but the real story of the night belonged to one batter and the calendar-year record she now owns.
A record that fell in a blur
Shafali’s ninth fifty-plus score of 2026 in women’s T20 internationals took her past Smriti Mandhana’s mark of eight, set in 2024, and made her the most prolific half-century machine the format has seen in a single calendar year. It was also her 22nd half-century in T20I cricket overall.
The assault began early and never relented. Zimbabwe’s new-ball bowlers had no answers as Shafali picked gaps, cleared the infield and launched a couple of dismissive sixes that brought the Raipur crowd to its feet. The chase, in the end, felt less like a contest and more like a masterclass.
Mandhana plays the perfect foil
At the other end, captain Smriti Mandhana was content to watch the fireworks up close. She remained unbeaten on 47, rotating strike smartly and ensuring the 96-run opening stand never lost momentum.
That partnership extended a remarkable statistical streak of its own. Shafali and Mandhana have now shared nine 50-plus stands in women’s T20Is this calendar year, the most by any opening pair in a single year, going past their own previous best of seven from 2024.
Bowlers set the tone early
India’s job was made simpler by a disciplined bowling display. Zimbabwe, who had opted to bat first after winning the toss, were restricted to 102 for 8, with India’s spinners squeezing the middle overs dry. The visitors’ batters rotated strike in patches but never found the boundary rhythm needed to post a challenging total.
The first T20I had been a closer affair, with India hunting down 115 at the same venue two days earlier. This time, the margin of victory told the story of a side growing in confidence under new leadership.
What this means for India
The timing could not be better for Indian women’s cricket. With a new captain in Mandhana and her deputy in red-hot form, the team looks settled, aggressive and hungry. Shafali’s golden run in 2026 is no longer just good form; with records falling every few weeks, it is starting to look like an all-time great year.
India will eye a 3-0 whitewash in the final T20I, but the series is already a success story. The Women in Blue have announced, in the loudest way possible, that a new era has begun.
FAQs
What record did Shafali Verma break against Zimbabwe?
She registered her ninth 50-plus score in women’s T20Is in the 2026 calendar year, the most by any batter in a single calendar year, surpassing Smriti Mandhana’s eight in 2024.
What was the final score of the 2nd T20I in Raipur?
Zimbabwe were restricted to 102/8, and India chased it down in 8.5 overs, winning by nine wickets with 67 balls remaining.
Who are India’s captain and vice-captain in the women’s T20I team?
Smriti Mandhana is the full-time captain and Shafali Verma is her deputy in the ongoing home series against Zimbabwe.
What is the series score after the Raipur win?
India lead the three-match T20I series 2-0, with the final match yet to be played.
How many T20I half-centuries does Shafali Verma have now?
Her 25-ball 55 was her 22nd half-century in women’s T20 international cricket.
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