Shefali Verma

Shafali Verma was born on January 28, 2004, in Rohtak, Haryana, India. Her early introduction to cricket involved practicing with her older brother and father, who was a devoted cricket fan. Due to the lack of cricket academies for girls in her hometown, Verma famously cut her hair short and disguised herself as a boy to train. This early dedication laid the foundation for her rapid ascent in the sport, fueled by a fearless approach to batting and a natural talent for hitting the ball forcefully. Her father, who had once been unable to pursue a career in cricket, fostered her passion from a young age.

Verma made her Women’s Twenty20 International (WT20I) debut for India at the age of 15 on September 24, 2019, making her the youngest Indian cricketer to play in this format. Shortly after, in November 2019, she became the youngest half-centurion for India in international cricket during a series against the West Indies, where she scored 158 runs across five matches and was named player of the series. Her powerful hitting and aggressive style quickly garnered attention, leading to her inclusion in India’s squad for the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where she was ranked as the number one batter in women’s T20I cricket prior to the tournament. In June 2021, she achieved another significant milestone by becoming the youngest player, male or female, to represent India in all three formats of international cricket.

Her career continued to progress with notable performances, including scoring 96 runs in her debut Test innings against England in June 2021, earning her the Player of the Match award after scoring 159 runs in the match. Verma later captained India to victory in the 2023 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, showcasing her leadership abilities. In July 2024, she made history by scoring a double century in Test cricket against South Africa, becoming only the second Indian woman to achieve this feat. She also played a pivotal role in India’s victory at the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, top-scoring in the final and contributing crucial wickets, which earned her the Player of the Match award.