'It was a childhood dream' - Shafali Verma on scoring a century for India

Shafali Verma achieved a significant milestone by scoring her maiden T20I century at the Asian Games, marking a breakthrough moment in her international career. The 22-year-old batter struck an unbeaten 100 off 49 deliveries in the semifinal, combining aggressive batting with precision to guide India to a commanding victory. Her innings featured nine sixes and three fours, showcasing her ability to dominate in the shortest format.

Verma made her T20I debut in 2019 and has since developed into a key player for India's women's team. Her century at the Asian Games came after years of working towards this personal goal, and the achievement carried deep meaning for her as both a player and a representative of Indian cricket.

"When I started playing in my childhood, T20 was my favourite format. I think it was a childhood dream that whenever I debut for the Indian team, I score a 100," Verma said in a video releases by BCCI.

“I made my debut in 2019 and since then I have been manifesting that I want to score a 100 in T20Is. It took a long time for me to get here but I’m happy, I’m glad it came and I will try to be in that moment again and again and I am so happy for that," she added.

Verma's 49-ball century ranks as the joint-fourth-fastest women's T20I hundred ever recorded, placing her among the elite scorers in the format's history. More significantly, she became the first woman to score a century at the Asian Games across the tournament's 28-year span, etching her name into the event's record books.

India's path to the gold medal match was secured through a dominant semifinal performance. Verma's explosive innings helped India crush Bangladesh by 114 runs, setting up a final clash with Sri Lanka. The team's momentum and confidence grew with each victory in the tournament.

Reflecting on the team's success and the emotional weight of the achievement, Verma spoke about the unity that developed throughout the competition. The victory brought the squad closer together and reinforced their collective strength heading into the final.

"Victory always brings happiness, that’s what I will say. Team unity has really gotten strong and winning more medals and trophies give the team a lot of confidence. We are all happy for that," Verma said.

Team unity and the gold medal moment

The gold medal moment represented the culmination of years of dedication and hard work for the Indian women's cricket team. Standing on the podium with the national flag rising high brought an emotional high that transcended the individual achievement.

"It's the best feeling, going up to the podium and wearing that gold medal, seeing our flag rise high brought even greater joy," Verma said.

In 2026, Verma demonstrated her dominance in T20 cricket by hitting 35 sixes in women's T20 internationals, more than any other woman has recorded in a single calendar year. This statistic underscored her aggressive approach and her growing influence as a batter in the format, establishing her as a key player for India's future campaigns.