India Women Secure Eighth Asia Cup Title with Dominant Victory Over Sri Lanka

In a thrilling final in Dubai, the Indian women's cricket team claimed their eighth Asia Cup title by defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs. With a record-breaking opening partnership of 129 runs between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, India set a challenging total of 183 runs. Sree Charani's exceptional bowling performance, taking 4 wickets for 20 runs, dismantled the Sri Lankan batting order, leading to their collapse at 111 runs. This victory not only highlights India's dominance in women's cricket but also sets new records in the tournament's history.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 14, 2026, 00:49 IST

India's All-Round Dominance in the Final

The Indian women's cricket team showcased an outstanding all-round performance to secure their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title, triumphing over Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final held in Dubai. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma set the stage with a remarkable opening partnership of 129 runs, propelling India to a total of 183/5. Sree Charani was the standout bowler, claiming 4 wickets for just 20 runs in her four overs, while Deepti Sharma contributed significantly with 3 wickets for 19 runs.

Sri Lanka's Struggles in the Chase

In pursuit of 184 runs, Sri Lanka faced immediate challenges, losing a wicket in the very first over. Although Imesha Dulani managed to hit a boundary, Indian pacer Kranti Gaud quickly dismissed her, leaving Sri Lanka in a precarious position. Captain Chamari Athapaththu attempted to stabilize the innings alongside Vishmi Gunaratne, hitting a six and a four during the powerplay. However, despite reaching 38/1 at the end of the powerplay, the Indian bowlers maintained tight control over the scoring rate.

As the innings progressed, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur introduced spin, which proved effective. Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma dominated the middle overs, with Charani consistently troubling the Sri Lankan batters. Athapaththu, who was the top scorer with 36 runs off 32 balls, fell to Deepti in the 10th over, leading to a rapid decline in Sri Lanka's batting order. Charani's impressive bowling saw her take three more wickets, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 102/6 after 16 overs. The innings concluded with Sri Lanka bowled out for 111 runs, handing India a comprehensive victory.

Record-Breaking Opening Partnership

Earlier in the match, the Indian opening duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana made history by posting a formidable total. Shafali scored a blistering 68 runs off 39 balls, while Smriti added a solid 59 runs off 39 balls. Shafali's fifty came off just 24 balls, marking the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history, surpassing Mandhana's previous record.

Shafali's Remarkable Achievement

With her explosive performance, Shafali has now accumulated three fifty-plus scores in this edition of the tournament, tying the record for the most in a single Women’s Asia Cup. She leads the tournament with a total of 236 runs at an average of 47.20 and a strike rate of 171.01.

Historic Partnerships

The opening stand of 129 runs is now the highest for any wicket in Women’s Asia Cup history, breaking the previous record of 128 runs. This partnership also stands as the highest in any women’s T20I final, surpassing the 120-run partnership set by West Indies players in the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup final.

Match Summary

India won the toss and chose to bat first. Following the impressive opening partnership, the Indian batting lineup faltered, with Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh unable to make significant contributions. A late cameo from Bharti Fulmali helped India reach 183/5 in their allotted overs. For Sri Lanka, Mithali Ayodhya and Chamari Athapaththu were the leading bowlers, each taking one wicket.