Shafali Verma becomes Third Highest POTM Winners in Women's T20I

By: WE staff | Wednesday, 24 December 2025

• Shafali Verma earned the third-highest Player of the Match award for India Women in T20Is
• She surpassed Smriti Mandhana to attain this feat
• Shafali has received eight Player of the Match awards in T20Is while playing at the age of 21 years

India opener Shafali Verma surpassed Smriti Mandhana to occupy the third spot in terms of the highest award winner of Player of the Match (POTM) in T20 International Matches by India women.

Currently at 21 years of age, Shafali now has eight POTM awards to her name behind Mithali Raj (12) and Harmanpreet Kaur (11) awards.

This award had come for an undefeated 69 off just 34 balls in the second T20 International against India and Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam. She hammered 11 fours and a six in that innings, giving India a winning seven-wicket victory and taking them to 2-0 in the five-match series.

Mithali Raj leads the Indian players' list for most awards under the POTM category in the Women's T20 International format. She has 12 awards from a total of 89 matches played between 2006 and 2019.

Harmanpreet is second on the list, with 11 awards from a total of 184 matches, while Verma comes third with eight awards from a total of 92 matches.

Speaking after the match, Shafali said she focused on playing along the ground early due to the conditions and credited guidance from the coaching staff for her approach. She added that staying calm and understanding her strengths helped her build the innings.

Smriti fell early, managing 14 off 11 balls as India lost her wicket at a team total of 29. In walked Jemimah Rodrigues to join Verma as the two combined for 58 runs for the second wicket, taking India to 68 runs in the power play. Rodrigues managed 26 off 15 balls before her fall.

Verma continued her attacking approach as India closed in on the target. Captain Harmanpreet entered late in the chase but was dismissed with one run remaining, as India finished off the great chase.