Shafali eyes South Africa scalp in T20 World Cup showdown

India all-rounder Shafali Verma is hoping to match her heroics from last year's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Final against South Africa when her side take on the Proteas at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup on Sunday.

Shafali continued her excellent recent run of form when contributing 55 and taking three wickets as India maintained their unbeaten run at the T20 World Cup with an comfortable 95-run triumph over the Netherlands in Leeds on Wednesday to catapult the side to the top of Group A after two wins at the tournament.

Sterner tests await India though, with South Africa their next challenger in a matchup between two of the tournament heavyweights their next contest in Manchester on Sunday.

There are fond memories of recent matches against South Africa for Shafali, with the right-hander adjudged the Player of the Match when the two teams met at the 50-over World Cup in 2025 courtesy of a quickfire innings of 87 at the top of the order and two wickets with the ball.

And with that impressive performance still fresh in her mind, Shafali is confident she can make a similar impact when India battle it out with South Africa this weekend.

"I would love to be the Player of the Match again but I think it’s just the next match and every day is different," Shafali said.

"I will go there with confidence as I was the Player of the Match in the (World Cup) final and I know everything about their bowlers.

"I have played against (South Africa pacer) Marizanne Kapp many times, so I know how to react in front of her.

"So yeah we are very excited for the next few matches and we are ready."

Shafali's partnership with Smriti Mandhana at the top of India's batting order looks pivotal to India's chances of claiming their maiden T20 World Cup title next month, with the pair putting on 115 for the opening wicket against the Netherlands to help guide the side to a bit total.

It was the fifth time the dynamic duo have put on a century partnership together and Shafali credited her more senior partner for guiding her while at the crease.

"The best thing is that whatever shots I can't hit, she hits them and she has the best seat to tell me what I'm doing is right or wrong and then even I have the best seat to tell her the same," Shafali noted.

"I think we both know how to rotate the strike, that if a spinner comes then who has to take the strike, if a left arm comes then who has to strike.

"We have been playing with each other since many years, so we both know who is to be given which strike, so we know about each other a lot."

Proteas’ ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad

Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Shabnim Ismail (DP World Lions), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions) and Dané van Niekerk (World Sports Betting Western Province).

Proteas Fixtures - ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 (All times SAST)

Saturday, 13 June at 3.30pm - Old Trafford, Manchester

South Africa v Australia (Aus won by 65 runs)

Wednesday, 17 June at 7.30pm - Edgbaston, Birmingham

South Africa v Pakistan (SA won by two wickets)

Sunday, 21 June at 3.30pm - Old Trafford, Manchester

South Africa v India

Thursday, 25 June at 7.30pm - Bristol County Ground, Bristol

South Africa v Netherlands

Sunday, 28 June at 11.30am - Lord’s, London

South Africa v Bangladesh