Indian opener Shafali Verma expressed her happiness after hitting her maiden T20I century against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semi-final. Reflecting on the milestone, she highlighted the “time, patience and belief” that helped her achieve the feat. Shafali smashed an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls, including three fours and nine sixes, to help India post 195/4 and book their place in the gold medal match against Sri Lanka.&nbsp;Sharing a post on Instagram, Shafali wrote, “Dreamed it. Manifested it. Worked for it. Hitting my first ever T20I hundred meant more than I can put into words. It took a lot of time, patience and belief, but some dreams are worth waiting for. Feeling truly blessed and grateful to finally live this moment. Now, onto the Finals.”&nbsp;Smriti Mandhana supported her with a quick 37 off 19 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 40 off 33 deliveries.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-pv-sindhu-shines-as-india-crush-kazakhstan-to-reach-quarterfinals-1789901512607">Asian Games: PV Sindhu shines as India crush Kazakhstan to reach quarterfinals</a>&nbsp;Bangladesh’s chase never got going as they were bowled out for 81 in 15.4 overs. Deepti Sharma and Nandani Sharma claimed three wickets each, while Sree Charani took two.&nbsp;Shafali’s century made her the third Indian women’s batter to score a T20I hundred after Mandhana and Harmanpreet. She now has 3,277 runs in 118 T20Is at a strike rate of 140.70, includin g a century and 21 fifties.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-shafali-verma-century-india-bangladesh-semifinal-1789893890849">Asia Cup finalists India and Sri Lanka to fight for women’s Asian Games gold</a>&nbsp;The nine sixes also took her tally to 104 in women’s T20Is. In 2026, Shafali has scored 815 runs and eight 50-plus scores, matching Mandhana’s record for most such scores in a calendar year.&nbsp;Her 49-ball hundred is tied with Harmanpreet’s 49-ball century and remains among the fastest T20I hundreds by a Full Member women’s batter. Deandra Dottin holds the record with a 38-ball hundred against South Africa in 2010.&nbsp;Shafali has continued to produce strong performances in knockout matches, with her latest century adding to an impressive run on the big stage.

Shafali Verma struck a brilliant unbeaten century as India defeated Bangladesh by 114 runs to book their place in the women's cricket final at the Asian Games.

Indian opener Shafali Verma expressed her happiness after hitting her maiden T20I century against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semi-final. Reflecting on the milestone, she highlighted the “time, patience and belief” that helped her achieve the feat. Shafali smashed an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls, including three fours and nine sixes, to help India post 195/4 and book their place in the gold medal match against Sri Lanka. Sharing a post on Instagram, Shafali wrote, “Dreamed it. Manifested it. Worked for it. Hitting my first ever T20I hundred meant more than I can put into words. It took a lot of time, patience and belief, but some dreams are worth waiting for. Feeling truly blessed and grateful to finally live this moment. Now, onto the Finals.” Smriti Mandhana supported her with a quick 37 off 19 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 40 off 33 deliveries. Also Read - Asian Games: PV Sindhu shines as India crush Kazakhstan to reach quarterfinals Bangladesh’s chase never got going as they were bowled out for 81 in 15.4 overs. Deepti Sharma and Nandani Sharma claimed three wickets each, while Sree Charani took two. Shafali’s century made her the third Indian women’s batter to score a T20I hundred after Mandhana and Harmanpreet. She now has 3,277 runs in 118 T20Is at a strike rate of 140.70, includin g a century and 21 fifties. Also Read - Asia Cup finalists India and Sri Lanka to fight for women’s Asian Games gold The nine sixes also took her tally to 104 in women’s T20Is. In 2026, Shafali has scored 815 runs and eight 50-plus scores, matching Mandhana’s record for most such scores in a calendar year. Her 49-ball hundred is tied with Harmanpreet’s 49-ball century and remains among the fastest T20I hundreds by a Full Member women’s batter. Deandra Dottin holds the record with a 38-ball hundred against South Africa in 2010. Shafali has continued to produce strong performances in knockout matches, with her latest century adding to an impressive run on the big stage.

Shafali Verma struck a brilliant unbeaten century as India defeated Bangladesh by 114 runs to book their place in the women's cricket final at the Asian Games.

'Dreamed it, manifested it...': Shafali Verma reflects on maiden T20I ton

India's women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur shared an emotional insight into the team’s journey to victory in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Ahead of the final, the team received a morale-boosting call from none other than Sachin Tendulkar, who offered them invaluable advice. Tendulkar spoke to the players the night before the big game. He encouraged them to maintain their composure and balance under pressure. “Sachin sir told us to keep our calm, especially when the match speeds up. Slow it down, and control the pace. If you rush, there’s a greater risk of making mistakes,” Harmanpreet recalled.&nbsp;This advice, which resonated deeply with the team, was pivotal as India went on to defeat South Africa by 52 runs in the final, clinching the World Cup at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Harmanpreet also reflected on how her personal journey had intertwined with the team’s historic achievement. “It still feels unreal. We keep saying ‘world champion’ to each other, but it’s a surreal feeling. My parents were there, and I’ve dreamed of this moment since childhood. For them to witness it made it even more special."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pacers-help-india-a-seize-control-over-south-africa-a-on-day-2-of-second-red-ball-game-1762526425926">Pacers help India A seize control over South Africa A on day 2 of second red-ball game</a>&nbsp;As the team lifted the trophy, Harmanpreet felt a mixture of pride and disbelief. “It’s hard to process this right now. Maybe in a few months, we’ll truly understand the significance of what we’ve done. It feels like a dream.” Harmanpreet also spoke about the emotional significance of sharing the moment with India’s cricketing icons, particularly Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. Both had been instrumental in the team’s near-successes in the 2005 and 2017 World Cups, and their presence in the stadium, even in commentary roles, was symbolic. "After the 2022 World Cup, we were heartbroken. It felt like we had failed Mithali di and Jhulan di. But we promised ourselves that if we ever won again, they would be there to witness it. And to see them hold the trophy with us was deeply meaningful," Harmanpreet was quoted as saying.&nbsp;She also acknowledged the continuous support from former players like Diana Edulji and Shubhangi Kulkarni, who had been guiding the team from the sidelines. “They were with us every step of the way. We visualised this victory with them in mind. We never dreamed of this moment without their presence.” Harmanpreet's reflections stressed on how much this victory meant not just to the team, but to the entire women’s cricket community in India. It was not only a dream fulfilled but also a tribute to the generations of players who had paved the way.

'When game is going fast, just...': India women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur reveals what Sachin Tendulkar told her a night before the World Cup final

India's women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur shared an emotional insight into the team’s journey to victory in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Ahead of the final, the team received a morale-boosting call from none other than Sachin Tendulkar, who offered them invaluable advice. Tendulkar spoke to the players the night before the big game. He encouraged them to maintain their composure and balance under pressure. “Sachin sir told us to keep our calm, especially when the match speeds up. Slow it down, and control the pace. If you rush, there’s a greater risk of making mistakes,” Harmanpreet recalled. This advice, which resonated deeply with the team, was pivotal as India went on to defeat South Africa by 52 runs in the final, clinching the World Cup at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Harmanpreet also reflected on how her personal journey had intertwined with the team’s historic achievement. “It still feels unreal. We keep saying ‘world champion’ to each other, but it’s a surreal feeling. My parents were there, and I’ve dreamed of this moment since childhood. For them to witness it made it even more special." Also Read: Pacers help India A seize control over South Africa A on day 2 of second red-ball game As the team lifted the trophy, Harmanpreet felt a mixture of pride and disbelief. “It’s hard to process this right now. Maybe in a few months, we’ll truly understand the significance of what we’ve done. It feels like a dream.” Harmanpreet also spoke about the emotional significance of sharing the moment with India’s cricketing icons, particularly Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. Both had been instrumental in the team’s near-successes in the 2005 and 2017 World Cups, and their presence in the stadium, even in commentary roles, was symbolic. "After the 2022 World Cup, we were heartbroken. It felt like we had failed Mithali di and Jhulan di. But we promised ourselves that if we ever won again, they would be there to witness it. And to see them hold the trophy with us was deeply meaningful," Harmanpreet was quoted as saying. She also acknowledged the continuous support from former players like Diana Edulji and Shubhangi Kulkarni, who had been guiding the team from the sidelines. “They were with us every step of the way. We visualised this victory with them in mind. We never dreamed of this moment without their presence.” Harmanpreet's reflections stressed on how much this victory meant not just to the team, but to the entire women’s cricket community in India. It was not only a dream fulfilled but also a tribute to the generations of players who had paved the way.

Harmanpreet Kaur reveals how Sachin Tendulkar's call helped India’s women’s team win their first-ever World Cup by beating South Africa in the final by 52 runs

The victorious Indian women’s cricket team, fresh off their historic ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 win, met India's President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday (November 6). Captain Harmanpreet Kaur presented the President Murmu with a team jersey signed by all players. India lifted their maiden global title in women’s cricket with a dominating 52-run win over South Africa in the final at Navi Mumbai last Sunday (November 2) — a defining moment in Indian cricket history.&nbsp;Taking it to X, President Murmu said, “Members of the Indian Women Cricket team, winner of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President congratulated the team and said that they have created history and have become role models for younger generation. She said that this team reflects India. They represent different regions, different social backgrounds, different circumstances but they are one&nbsp;Team&nbsp;—&nbsp;India.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-pacer-jahanara-alam-accuses-former-selector-of-sexual-harassment-bcb-forms-committee-to-probe-charges-1762511859095">Bangladesh pacer Jahanara Alam accuses former selector of sexual harassment, BCB forms committee to probe charges</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Members of the Indian Women Cricket team, winner of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President congratulated the team and said that they have created history and have become role models for younger generation.… <a href="https://t.co/lHBBXRcPh5">pic.twitter.com/lHBBXRcPh5</a>&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1986352712271712485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

President Murmu lauded the team’s extraordinary achievement, saying they had “created history” and become “true role models for the younger generation.” She said that the players, hailing from diverse regions and backgrounds, symbolise unity and the spirit of India. A day earlier, on Wednesday (November 5) the champions met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reflecting on their journey, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur recalled their 2017 meeting with the Prime Minister as runners-up, expressing pride in returning as world champions. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana praised Modi’s encouragement of women’s empowerment, while Deepti Sharma remembered his earlier words of motivation. The Prime Minister urged the team to lead the “Fit India” movement, inspiring young girls across the nation through fitness, discipline, and perseverance.&nbsp;During the final on Sunday (November 2), India beat South Africa by 52 runs. Opener Shafali Verma scored 87 and helped the team register a total of 298. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 246 runs.

President Murmu congratulated India’s women’s cricket team for their remarkable 2025 World Cup win, calling them symbols of unity and role models for youth

The victorious Indian women’s cricket team, fresh off their historic ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 win, met India's President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday (November 6). Captain Harmanpreet Kaur presented the President Murmu with a team jersey signed by all players. India lifted their maiden global title in women’s cricket with a dominating 52-run win over South Africa in the final at Navi Mumbai last Sunday (November 2) — a defining moment in Indian cricket history. Taking it to X, President Murmu said, “Members of the Indian Women Cricket team, winner of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President congratulated the team and said that they have created history and have become role models for younger generation. She said that this team reflects India. They represent different regions, different social backgrounds, different circumstances but they are one Team — India.” Also Read: Bangladesh pacer Jahanara Alam accuses former selector of sexual harassment, BCB forms committee to probe charges

President Murmu congratulated India’s women’s cricket team for their remarkable 2025 World Cup win, calling them symbols of unity and role models for youth

India women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur presents President Droupadi Murmu with signed jersey

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'Dreamed it, manifested it...': Shafali Verma reflects on maiden T20I ton

'When game is going fast...': Harmanpreet reveals Sachin's message before final

India women's team captain presents President Droupadi Murmu with signed jersey