India opener Shafali Verma reached a significant career milestone by surpassing 4,000 international runs during the third T20I against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on April 22, 2026.
The 22-year-old achieved the landmark in style, scoring a fluent 64 off 46 balls while opening alongside Smriti Mandhana. Her innings, which included eight boundaries and two sixes, marked her second half-century of the series and helped India post their highest T20I total against South Africa — 192/4 in 20 overs.
Bright Spot in a Difficult Series
Despite India suffering a heavy defeat as South Africa completed a 3-0 series lead under Laura Wolvaardt, Verma’s performance stood out as a major positive.
She has been India’s leading run-scorer in the series so far, accumulating 155 runs across three innings at a strike rate of 149.03 and an average of 51.66. Overall, she is the second-highest run-getter in the contest.
The ongoing five-match T20I series, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, has seen India struggle after losses in the first two matches. However, Verma’s aggressive batting has provided momentum and intent at the top of the order.
T20I Career and Growth
Shafali Verma made her T20I debut on September 24, 2019, against South Africa in Surat. Since then, she has featured in 101 matches and 100 innings, scoring 2,674 runs at a strike rate of 135.59 and an average of 28.44, including 16 half-centuries.
Her highest score in the format remains 81 off 48 balls against Nepal on July 23, 2024, an innings that featured 12 boundaries and a six and helped India secure a convincing victory.
Success in Test Cricket
In the longest format, Verma has also made a strong impact since debuting against England at Bristol on June 16, 2021. Across six Tests and 12 innings, she has accumulated 607 runs at an average of 55.18 and a strike rate of 74.38, including three half-centuries and a double century.
Her standout performance came on June 28, 2024, in Chennai against South Africa, where she produced a remarkable 205 off 197 balls, striking 23 fours and eight sixes.
ODI Contributions
Verma made her ODI debut on June 27, 2021, against England at Bristol. In 32 matches, she has scored 745 runs at an average of 24.03 and a strike rate of 85.24, with five half-centuries.
One of her most notable ODI performances came in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final on November 2 in Navi Mumbai, where she scored 87 off 78 balls, helping India set a strong total. South Africa fell short in the chase, as India secured their maiden senior ICC title under Harmanpreet Kaur and coach Amol Muzumdar.
A Milestone with Bigger Implications
Crossing 4,000 international runs highlights Verma’s rapid rise and consistency across formats. Her performances in the ongoing series further underline her importance to India’s plans as they build towards the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
At just 22, Shafali Verma continues to establish herself as one of the key figures in India’s batting lineup, combining aggressive strokeplay with growing maturity at the international level.
