Shafali Verma is a renowned Indian cricketer, celebrated for her exceptional talent and record-breaking achievements at a remarkably young age. Her journey from a local Haryana ground to the international stage is truly inspiring.

Wiki/Biography

Shafali Verma was born on Wednesday, January 28, 2004, in Rohtak, Haryana, India. As of 2023, she is 19 years old. Her zodiac sign is Aquarius. She completed her schooling at Mandeep Senior Secondary School, Rohtak. Her exceptional skills were evident early on; at just 14, she joined the Haryana Under-16 women’s team. A standout performance against Nagaland, where she scored 128 runs off only 56 balls, solidified her place.

In 2019, she played for the “IPL Velocity” team in the Women’s T20 Challenge under the legendary Mithali Raj. These impressive performances led to her selection for the Indian national team. Her T20 International debut was on September 24, 2019, against South Africa, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Physical Appearance

• Height (approx.): 5’4″
• Eye Colour: Black
• Hair Colour: Black

Family & Caste

Shafali Verma hails from a Hindu family. Her father, Sanjeev Verma, owns a jewelry shop in Rohtak. He played a crucial role in nurturing her cricketing talent, providing initial training for three years before enrolling her in the Ram Narayan Cricket Club, Rohtak, in 2016. Her mother, Praveen Bala, is a homemaker. Shafali has two brothers, an older brother Sahil Verma (who also plays cricket) and a younger brother.

Career

At just 15, Shafali made her WT20I debut on September 24, 2019, against South Africa, becoming India’s youngest international cricket debutant. In November 2019, she surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s 30-year-old record by scoring a half-century against the West Indies, becoming the youngest ever to achieve this feat at 15 years and 285 days old.

Her impressive performances led to her selection for the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia and a Grade C player contract from the BCCI. In May 2021, she was included in India’s Test and Women’s One Day International (WODI) squads for their series against England. Her Test debut on June 16, 2021, saw her score 96 runs in the first innings, earning her Player of the Match honors with a total of 159 runs across both innings.

Her ODI debut followed on June 27, 2021, making her the youngest Indian cricketer (male or female) to debut in all three international formats. In February 2023, the Delhi Capitals secured her for ₹2 crore in the inaugural WPL auction.

Facts/Trivia

Shafali began playing cricket at the age of 8 in 2012, initially practicing with a tennis ball under her father’s guidance. He rewarded her with ₹5 for every six she hit during practice sessions. In a remarkable display of determination, she once disguised herself as her sick brother Sahil to play in an Under-12 School National Championship in Panipat, leading her team to victory and earning the Player of the Series award.

Her exceptional talent led her to be promoted to the Elite Group, playing with Under-19 boys despite initially training with girls. Her coach, Ashwani Kumar, noted her exceptional natural talent, possessing skills typically developed much later in a player’s career.

Her passion for cricket was further ignited after witnessing Sachin Tendulkar bat in 2013. During the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, she reached the top spot in the ICC Women’s T20 International rankings and became the youngest player to appear in a World Cup final, despite India’s loss to Australia.

Shafali Verma’s Key Career Milestones