Indian Women's Cricket Team Triumphs with Gold at 2026 Asian Games

Historic Victory for Indian Women’s Cricket

Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 22: Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal expressed his congratulations to the Indian Women’s cricket team for securing the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The Indian women's team showcased an impressive performance, achieving their second consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games. They dominated the final against Sri Lanka, winning by a staggering 147 runs, thanks to outstanding contributions from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. India set a formidable target of 216 runs, while Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 69 runs in 15.4 overs.

This victory marks India's first gold medal in this edition of the Asian Games, adding to their tally of four silvers and two bronzes, bringing their total medal count to seven.

Madan Lal praised the team’s achievement, calling it a memorable moment and attributing the success to the players' hard work. He stated, “Gold is gold. I want to congratulate the Indian women’s cricket team for their remarkable win. These moments are unforgettable, and all credit goes to them.”

He further emphasized the significance of their consistent performance over the past few months, noting that such achievements are recorded in history. “When you retire, you remember that you won a gold medal,” he added.

While acknowledging the positive impact of cricket's inclusion in the Olympics and Asian Games, Madan Lal highlighted the need for enhancing the competitive standards to provide spectators with high-quality matches. “It’s great to participate in these events, but the standard of play must improve for the enjoyment of the audience,” he remarked.

In the final, India posted a strong score of 216/3, with Smriti Mandhana leading the charge with 79 runs off 45 balls, while Shafali Verma contributed 48 runs off 29 balls. Richa Ghosh added a quickfire 49 runs off 22 balls. Mandhana's innings included five fours and seven sixes, making her the first woman cricketer to surpass 11,000 runs in international cricket.

This 147-run victory secured India’s second consecutive gold in women’s cricket at the Asian Games, following their triumph in Hangzhou in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Indian men's cricket team, led by Shreyas Iyer, faced a challenging match against Japan, narrowly winning a rain-shortened T20I by two runs. Axar Patel successfully defended eight runs in the final over, ensuring victory after India managed only 32 runs in their innings.

Japan's bowlers performed admirably on a difficult pitch, limiting India to 32/4 in five overs. Shreyas Iyer was the top scorer with 16 runs. Japan, chasing 33, struggled early but steadied their innings before falling short.

Madan Lal commented that the close win against Japan should not be viewed as a warning, as the two teams are at different developmental stages. He stressed the importance of building strong grassroots structures in emerging cricket nations to enhance their competitiveness.

“This isn’t a wake-up call; Japan is just beginning its cricket journey. Our players are seasoned professionals. For these developing nations, it’s crucial to establish a solid foundation through school and college cricket,” he explained.

He expressed optimism about the Indian men's team’s chances of winning gold, citing their experienced players' ability to perform under pressure. “India has a strong chance due to their experienced squad, and they truly deserve to win,” he concluded.