The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Shafali Verma was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match. The incident occurred in the 12th over of Zimbabwe's innings in the second T20I in Raipur on Sunday, October 18: after dropping Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano at mid-off off Sree Charani's bowling, Verma threw the ball into the ground in frustration.

Verma admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by G.S. Lakshmi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so no formal hearing was needed, the ICC said. One demerit point has been added to her disciplinary record — her first offence in a 24-month period. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum of 50 per cent of the player's match fee, along with one or two demerit points.

The reprimand took none of the shine off Verma's day with the bat. Zimbabwe were restricted to 102 for 8, and India chased the 103-run target in just 8.5 overs for a nine-wicket win, with Verma smashing an unbeaten 55 off 25 balls and captain Smriti Mandhana making an unbeaten 47 off 25. The win gave India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series; the third and final T20I is being played in Raipur today, October 20. ANI reported the win was India's 17th T20I victory of 2026, their highest tally in a calendar year.

Sources: ICC official release; ANI; Cricbuzz.