India Women Asia Cup 2026: India Beat Sri Lanka by 72 Runs, Skip Trophy Ceremony
India Women Asia Cup 2026: India Beat Sri Lanka by 72 Runs
India finished the India Women Asia Cup 2026 campaign as champions after producing a commanding all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India posted 183/5 after choosing to bat first and then bowled Sri Lanka out for 111 in 20 overs.
The victory gave India a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana provided the foundation with a 129-run opening partnership, while left-arm spinner Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma led the bowling attack during Sri Lanka’s chase.
However, the celebrations were followed by an unusual trophy presentation, with the Indian team choosing not to participate in the ceremony involving Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi.
India Women Asia Cup 2026 Final Starts With Shafali and Mandhana Dominance
India won the toss and elected to bat, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s side making one change to the XI by bringing in Gunalan Kamalini for Pratika Rawal.
The decision to bat first immediately paid dividends. Shafali Verma attacked from the beginning, while Smriti Mandhana initially played the supporting role before accelerating later in the innings.
India reached 57/0 at the end of the Powerplay before the opening pair continued to build pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Shafali completed her half-century from only 24 balls, making it the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history.
The opening partnership eventually reached 129 runs from 12.5 overs. Shafali was dismissed for an excellent 68 from 39 balls, including nine fours and two sixes. Mandhana followed shortly afterwards for 59 from 39 deliveries, with five fours and three sixes.
India Women Asia Cup 2026 Final Sees India Finish on 183/5
Sri Lanka managed to slow India’s scoring after the departure of the openers.
Harmanpreet Kaur made 14 from 14 balls, while Richa Ghosh scored 17 from 13. India needed a late push, and Gunalan Kamalini supplied it in spectacular fashion. Playing her first match of the tournament, Kamalini remained unbeaten on 15 from just five deliveries, including a boundary and a six.
India eventually finished on 183/5 in 20 overs, giving Sri Lanka a target of 184.
For Sri Lanka, Mithali Ayodhya and Chamari Athapaththu took one wicket each.
India Women Asia Cup 2026 Bowling Attack Dismantles Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s chase began with an early setback when Imesha Dulani was dismissed by Kranti Gaud in the opening over.
Chamari Athapaththu then attempted to rebuild the innings alongside Vishmi Gunaratne. The pair added 58 runs for the second wicket, but India regained complete control in the 10th over.
Deepti Sharma first removed Athapaththu for 36 from 32 balls, having her stumped by Richa Ghosh. Three deliveries later, Deepti dismissed Vishmi Gunaratne for 20, leaving Sri Lanka at 63/3 after 10 overs.
From there, Shree Charani took over.
The left-arm spinner dismissed Harshitha Samarawickrama for nine before striking twice in the 16th over to remove Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva. She completed her four-wicket haul by dismissing Sugandika Kumari and finished with outstanding figures of 4/20 from four overs.
Deepti returned to claim the final wicket and ended with 3/19, while Shafali Verma and Prema Rawat also took one wicket each.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111 in 20 overs, giving India a 72-run victory.
India Women Asia Cup 2026 Final Scorecard
India’s 183/5 was built around the opening partnership between Shafali and Mandhana, while Sri Lanka’s chase never recovered after the middle-order collapse.
India: 183/5 in 20 overs
Shafali Verma – 68 (39)
Smriti Mandhana – 59 (39)
Richa Ghosh – 17 (13)
Harmanpreet Kaur – 14 (14)
Gunalan Kamalini – 15* (5)
Sri Lanka: 111 all out in 20 overs
Chamari Athapaththu – 36 (32)
Vishmi Gunaratne – 20
Nilakshika Silva – 22
India bowling:
Shree Charani – 4/20
Deepti Sharma – 3/19
Kranti Gaud – 1/8
Shafali Verma – 1/23
Prema Rawat – 1/22
India won by 72 runs.
India Women Asia Cup 2026 Victory Delivers Record Eighth Title
The victory marked India’s eighth Women’s Asia Cup title, extending their record as the most successful team in the tournament’s history. India also avenged their defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2024 final.
The title was built on contributions from both experienced players and emerging performers. Shafali and Mandhana dominated the powerplay and established the platform, while Charani and Deepti dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order.
Shafali also finished the tournament as its leading run-scorer, with 236 runs from five innings at an average of 47.20 and a strike rate of 171.01.
For Charani, the final added another major performance to an impressive tournament. Her four-wicket haul proved decisive in preventing Sri Lanka from mounting a serious chase.
India Women Asia Cup 2026 Trophy Ceremony Takes Unexpected Turn
The major talking point after India’s victory came during the trophy presentation.
India’s players did not participate in the official ceremony to receive the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Naqvi is also Pakistan’s interior minister.
The Indian team celebrated its victory separately rather than taking part in the presentation involving Naqvi. BCCI officials, including secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajiv Shukla, were present around the team. Reports also noted that the Sri Lankan players received their runners-up medals during the ceremony.
The development immediately brought back memories of the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup final, when India’s men’s team also did not receive the trophy from Naqvi after defeating Pakistan.
India Women Asia Cup 2026 Trophy Decision Backed by BCCI
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later described the decision as a conscious one, saying all relevant circumstances had been considered and that the ACC had been informed beforehand that India would not participate in the trophy presentation under those conditions.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar also backed the decision. He said the stand had been taken by the BCCI and that the team remained united behind it. Muzumdar stressed that India were officially the champions and that the team’s attention had already moved towards the Asian Games.
Importantly, the team’s status as champions was never in question. India’s 72-run victory officially secured the title, regardless of the presentation ceremony.
India Women Asia Cup 2026 Champions Now Turn Focus to Asian Games
With the Asia Cup campaign complete, India’s attention now moves towards the Asian Games.
The Dubai final provided India with an emphatic finish to the tournament. The batting unit produced the required foundation, while the spinners ensured Sri Lanka had little opportunity to challenge the 184-run target.
The trophy presentation may dominate the headlines, but on the field India’s achievement was clear: 183/5 against 111 all out, a 72-run victory and a record eighth Women’s Asia Cup title.
For Harmanpreet Kaur and her team, the next challenge will be to carry that momentum into the Asian Games.
