In a thrilling clash at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium on January 20, 2026, Delhi Capitals opener Shafali Verma etched her name into Women’s Premier League (WPL) history. The 21-year-old sensation became the second Indian after Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, and the fourth overall player behind Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians), Meg Lanning (UP Warriorz), and Harmanpreet, to surpass 1,000 runs in the tournament.
She achieved the landmark in the 13th game of the season and the 5th game of Delhi Capitals campaign in the ongoing 4th edition of the tournament. This feat crowns Verma as the youngest ever in the history of the WPL to enter the elite 1,000-run club, underscoring her explosive rise in women’s cricket.
Needing just 15 runs entering the game against Harmanpreet’s Mumbai Indians, Verma delivered with a brisk 29 off 24 balls, featuring six boundaries. Opening alongside wicket-keeper batter Lizelle Lee, she forged a crucial 63-run stand while chasing 155. Delhi Capitals sealed a commanding seven-wicket win with an over to spare, thanks to skipper Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten 51 off 37 balls, earning her Player of the Match honours. This victory reignited Delhi Capitals campaign, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Verma’s form in the fourth edition has been electric: 149 runs across five innings at a strike rate of 122.13 and an average of 29.80, including a half-century. Since her WPL debut on March 5, 2023, for Delhi Capitals against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, she has amassed 1,014 runs in 32 innings at a blistering strike rate of 155.04 and an average of 34.96.
Boasting seven half-centuries, her standout knock remains that debut 84 off 45 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and four sixes, powering Delhi Capitals to 223/2 and a 60-run rout of RCB. Currently fourth on the all-time WPL run-scorers list, Verma’s consistency cements her as a cornerstone for India and DC.
From a raw 19-year-old debutant to a milestone-breaking force at 21, Shafali’s journey mirrors the WPL’s evolution into a global powerhouse for women’s T20 talent. Her fearless strokeplay, blending power with precision, not only propels the Delhi Capitals but also inspires a generation. As the tournament intensifies, expect Verma to climb even higher on that coveted list.
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