India produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, securing a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title.
The victory also helped India avenge their defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2024 final. It was India’s sixth win over Sri Lanka in an Asia Cup final across the ODI and T20 formats, including the 2004 edition when India defeated Sri Lanka 5-0 in the two-team tournament.
India first posted a formidable 183/5 after openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana produced a record-breaking 129-run partnership. The bowlers then completed the job by dismissing Sri Lanka for 111 in 19.4 overs, with Shree Charani taking four wickets and Deepti Sharma claiming three.
Shafali, Mandhana set up India’s imposing total
After winning the toss, India opted to bat and received a flying start from Shafali and Mandhana.
Shafali smashed 68 off 39 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, while Mandhana contributed 59 off 39 balls, with five fours and three sixes. Their opening partnership of 129 runs was the highest for any wicket in Women’s Asia Cup history, surpassing the previous record of 128 set by Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma against the UAE in 2022.
The partnership was also the highest in the final of any women’s T20I tournament, going past the 120-run stand between West Indies’ Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor against Australia in the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup final.
Shafali reached her half-century in just 24 balls, recording the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history and surpassing Mandhana’s previous mark of 25 balls against Sri Lanka in the 2022 edition.
The knock was Shafali’s third fifty-plus score of the tournament, matching Chamari Athapaththu’s record from Sri Lanka’s victorious 2024 campaign. She finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer, with 236 runs in five innings at an average of 47.20 and a strike rate of 171.01, including three fifties and a highest score of 68.
Mandhana and Shafali have now registered six century partnerships in Women’s T20Is, tying UAE’s Esha Oza and Theertha Satish for the most 100-plus stands in the format for any wicket.
Their partnership also took their combined tally to 3,909 runs in 105 innings, at an average of 38.32 and a scoring rate of 8.26, with six century stands and 24 half-century partnerships.
India lost momentum after the departure of the openers, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur scoring 14 off 14 balls and Richa Ghosh making 17 off 13. However, G Kamalini, playing her first match of the tournament, provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 15 off five balls, including a four and a six, to take India to 183/5.
For Sri Lanka, Mithali Ayodhya and Chamari Athapaththu took one wicket each.
Charani, Deepti dismantle Sri Lankan chase
Sri Lanka’s chase of 184 suffered an early setback when Imesha Dulani, after beginning with a boundary, was bowled by Kranti Gaud in the first over.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu attempted to rebuild the innings with Vishmi Gunaratne and attacked during the powerplay, hitting a six and a boundary. Sri Lanka reached 38/1 after six overs, but India’s disciplined bowling kept the required run rate under pressure.
After the field restrictions ended, Harmanpreet introduced spin and Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma took control of the middle overs.
Athapaththu top-scored with 36 off 32 balls, but Deepti dismissed her in the 10th over and struck again in the same over to remove Vishmi Gunaratne. Sri Lanka were reduced to 63/3 after 10 overs, needing 121 runs from the final 60 deliveries.
Charani then removed Harshitha Samarawickrama for nine in the 14th over. She struck twice more in the 16th over, dismissing Kavisha Dilhari for seven and Nilakshika Silva for 22, leaving Sri Lanka at 102/6.
Charani completed her four-wicket haul by dismissing Sugandika Kumari, finishing with outstanding figures of 4/20 from four overs. Shafali Verma and Prema Rawat also picked up wickets before Deepti Sharma completed Sri Lanka’s collapse by dismissing Kaushani Nuthyangana for nine.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 111, handing India a comprehensive 72-run victory and the Women’s Asia Cup trophy.
Deepti finished with 3/19 from four overs, while Charani’s four-wicket haul played a decisive role in India’s defence of the total.
India dominate across departments
India’s victory was built on a combination of explosive batting at the top and disciplined bowling through the middle and final overs. The record partnership between Shafali and Mandhana gave India the platform, while Charani and Deepti dismantled Sri Lanka’s chase to seal a memorable eighth title.
Brief scores: India 183/5 (Shafali Verma 68, Smriti Mandhana 59; Mithali Ayodhya 1/33) beat Sri Lanka 111 all out (Chamari Athapaththu 36, Nilakshika Silva 22; Shree Charani 4/20, Deepti Sharma 3/19) by 72 runs.
(With agency inputs)
