Early Life
Shafali was born on 28 January 2004 in Rohtak, Haryana, into a family that didn’t have a lot of money but fully supported her cricket dream.
Her father, who had always wanted to play cricket, became her first coach.In Rohtak, there weren’t many facilities for girls, so she trained with boys and even cut her hair short to not stand out.That difficult start helped shape the fearless and aggressive batting style that she is now famous for.
Education
She completed her schooling at Mandeep Senior Secondary School in Rohtak, balancing her studies with her cricketing career as her commitments grew.
Family
Family Member | Name | Role
Father | Sanjeev Verma | Jeweller & First Coach
Mother | Poonam Verma | Homemaker
Brother | Sahil Verma | Supports her training
Her family has always been with her during every tournament, supporting her even when her unusual training methods faced some criticism.
Cricket Career
Shafali’s performances in domestic cricket for Haryana first caught attention, and she made her senior India T20I debut in 2019 against South Africa at just 15 years old — still the youngest ever to do so.
By November 2019, she had broken Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the youngest Indian to score an international half-century.She went on to lead India into the final of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Her powerful batting style made her a highly sought-after player in global franchise cricket — teams like Gujarat Giants in the WPL, Sydney Sixers in the WBBL, and Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred have all signed her.
Recent Success: 2025 World Cup Glory, 2026 World Cup Form
Shafali’s biggest achievement came on 2 November 2025 when India won their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final.
She scored a quick 87 and took two wickets with her part-time off-spin, earning Player of the Match honors and becoming, at 21 years and 279 days, the youngest player — whether male or female — to win that award in a World Cup semi-final or final.Remarkably, she wasn’t in the original squad and only got her chance when an injury replacement was needed.
She has carried that form into 2026: at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, she helped India win a five-wicket match against Bangladesh, hitting a fluent 53 off 34 balls in the powerplay to set up the chase and keep India’s semi-final hopes alive.
Personal Life
Off the field, Shafali enjoys gym sessions, traveling, and listening to Punjabi and Bollywood music.
She often spends her free time with family and teammates.She is seen as humble, disciplined, and focused on improving her game.She has not been involved in any major controversies.
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