Shafali Varma made headlines during India's Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match against Pakistan in Dubai, achieving a remarkable milestone by becoming the youngest player to score 3,000 runs in women's T20 internationals. The talented Indian opener reached this landmark at just 22 years and 220 days old, breaking the previous record held by Ireland's Gaby Lewis, who accomplished the feat at 24 years and 347 days.
In addition to being the youngest, Shafali also set the record for the fastest player to reach 3,000 runs in women's T20Is based on the number of balls faced. She achieved this milestone in only 2,182 deliveries, highlighting her explosive batting style and ability to score rapidly. Shafali is now the 16th overall player to reach this significant run total in women's T20Is and the third Indian to do so, following in the footsteps of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur.
Shafali's journey to 3,000 runs was marked by her characteristic aggressive play. She opened the innings with a six off Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal, showcasing her intent right from the start. After hitting a single to reach the milestone, she continued her aggressive approach with a powerful four off Fatima Sana. However, her innings was cut short as she was dismissed for just 12 runs off six balls, which included one four and one six. Fatima Sana took the catch off her own bowling, ending Shafali's brief but impactful outing.
The match itself was a showcase of India's dominance as they chased down a modest target of 56 runs after Pakistan was bowled out for their lowest-ever T20I total. India’s spin attack proved too much for Pakistan, with Shree Charani and Prema Rawat each taking three wickets, while Deepti Sharma contributed with two. The Indian team completed the chase comfortably, reaching 57 runs for the loss of three wickets in just 8.4 overs, securing a convincing seven-wicket victory. Harmanpreet Kaur played a crucial role in finishing the match, remaining unbeaten on 18 and sealing the win with a six.
This victory not only highlighted India's strength in the tournament but also showcased the bright future of women's cricket with young talents like Shafali Varma leading the charge. As the Women’s Asia Cup progresses, Shafali's record-setting performance will undoubtedly inspire many aspiring cricketers and add to the excitement surrounding the competition.
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