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India Women produced a commanding all-round performance against Sri Lanka Women in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, securing a comprehensive 72-run victory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After opting to bat first, India posted an imposing 183/5 in their allotted 20 overs before their bowlers dismantled the Sri Lankan batting line-up for just 111. Shafali Verma emerged as the standout performer, starring with the bat and also contributing with the ball to earn the Player of the Match award.
India post imposing total courtesy of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s batting brilliance
India Women made the most of the decision to bat first, with their opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali setting the tone for a big total. Mandhana played a fluent knock of 59 runs from 39 deliveries, striking five fours and three sixes. She provided the innings with a strong foundation before making way for the middle order.
Shafali was even more destructive, smashing 68 off 39 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Her aggressive strokeplay kept Sri Lanka’s bowlers under constant pressure and ensured India maintained a healthy scoring rate throughout the innings.
Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 14 from 14 balls, while Richa Ghosh added a useful 17 off 13 deliveries. Deepti Sharma made five before departing, and Bharti Fulmali managed two runs. Gunalan Kamalini then provided a late boost with an explosive 15 off just five balls, including a four and a six, helping India finish on 183/5.
Sri Lanka struggled to consistently contain India’s attacking batting unit. Mithali Ayodhya was the most economical among the wicket-takers, finishing with figures of 1/33 from four overs. Captain Chamari Athapaththu also claimed one wicket but conceded 34 runs in her four-over spell. Chamudi Praboda picked up one wicket but was expensive, giving away 40 runs from her four overs. Sugandika Kumari conceded 31 runs without taking a wicket, while Kavisha Dilhari returned figures of 0/29 from three overs. Nilakshi de Silva bowled one over and conceded 15 runs.
Bowlers run riot as India lift Asia Cup title
Chasing 184 for victory, Sri Lanka never managed to build the kind of partnership required to stay in the contest. Captain Athapaththu offered some resistance with 36 runs from 32 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, but the lack of substantial support from the other end left Sri Lanka struggling. Vishmi Rajapaksha Gunaratne scored 20 from 22 deliveries, while Nilakshi de Silva added 22 off 16 balls. Harshitha Samarawickrama contributed nine, with Kavisha making seven. Kaushani Nuthyangana scored nine, but the lower order failed to withstand India’s relentless bowling attack.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 111 in 20 overs, falling 72 runs short of the target. Shree Charani was the pick of India’s bowlers, producing a brilliant spell of 4/20 from her four overs. She consistently troubled the Sri Lankan batters and played a major role in breaking their resistance. Deepti was equally influential, claiming 3/19 in her four-over spell. Shafali added another important contribution with 1/23, completing an excellent all-round display after her match-winning batting effort.
Shafali’s outstanding contribution with both bat and ball made her the clear choice for the Player of the Match award. Her 68-run assault at the top of the order gave India the momentum they needed to post a formidable total, before she returned to contribute with the ball.
Also READ: Deepti Sharma climbs to sixth as Smriti Mandhana strengthens top-five spot in latest ICC rankings
Here’s how fans reacted:
𝗖. 𝗛. 𝗔. 𝗠. 𝗣. 𝗜. 𝗢. 𝗡. 𝗦 🏆
A flawless campaign capped by sheer brilliance 🇮🇳🥳
Congratulations to #TeamIndia on winning the #WomensAsiaCup 👏👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/knKLXGSfOd #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/O3KaZ0oA3p
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) September 13, 2026
Heartiest congratulations to Team India, Women in Blue, on a commanding 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Final, making the whole country proud and jubiliant.
A truly superlative performance throughout the tournament, marked by consistency, confidence and teamwork.… pic.twitter.com/WTV82oG3sG— Devajit LON Saikia (@lonsaikia) September 14, 2026
India complete an unbeaten campaign to secure their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title 🇮🇳🏆
📝: https://t.co/n0D6WSbmIj pic.twitter.com/Fv9C4I8EMo
— ICC (@ICC) September 13, 2026
Heads High, Lionesses! 🦁
A hard-fought battle till the very end. It wasn’t our day, but what a journey it has been🇱🇰
Congratulations to India Women on winning the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. 🏆🇮🇳
Keep roaring, Lionesses. The best is yet to come! 🦁#WomensAsiaCup2026 #Lionesses… pic.twitter.com/DkyoHlag31— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 13, 2026
Champions! 🇮🇳🏆@mandhana_smriti & @TheShafaliVerma explosive start set up the game, followed by superb bowling and fielding. Sri Lanka fought hard, but India were too good!
Asia Cup champions in both men’s & women’s cricket. A testament to the strength of Indian cricket.… pic.twitter.com/vGpHXsRnG3
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) September 13, 2026
INDIA SKIPS TROPHY PRESENTATION AFTER ASIA CUP WIN !!!
India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai to win their record extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. However, the Indian team did not attend the official trophy presentation with ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also… pic.twitter.com/cxEdOxtPbP
— Ravi Prakash Official (@raviprakash_rtv) September 14, 2026
🏆 CHAMPIONS OF ASIA 🇮🇳 ONCE AGAIN!
What a glorious triumph for Team India! 🇮🇳🏏
Heartiest congratulations to our Women in Blue on a magnificent victory in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026! Defeating Sri Lanka by a commanding 72 runs in the final, India has lifted the prestigious Asia… pic.twitter.com/F1FthdmGg4
— Chandrashekhar Bawankule (@cbawankule) September 14, 2026
India, India! 🇮🇳🏆
Champions of the Asia Cup for the 8th time!
In the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 T20 final, the Indian Women’s Cricket Team defeated Sri Lanka to win the Asia Cup.
Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the Indian Women’s Cricket Team on this historic victory.… pic.twitter.com/zOsZAIPgpM
— Satish Upadhyay (@upadhyaysbjp) September 13, 2026
🇮🇳🏆 #CHAMPIONS OF ASIA #India defeated #SriLanka by 72 runs to lift the #AsiaCup. A proud salute to Harmanpreet Kaur and the entire Indian women’s team, including #SmritiMandhana, #ShafaliVerma, #ShreeCharani and #DeeptiSharma. शानदार जीत! 🇮🇳#TeamIndia #AsiaCup2025 #INDvsSL… pic.twitter.com/lgwY4jnh1S
— Juni (@juni395819) September 14, 2026
What a day it was for Indian sports!
Another big win for India!A dominating show by Team India to defeat Sri Lanka by 72 runs to lift the Women’s Asia Cup Cricket 2026 in Dubai for a record eight time!
Batting brilliance. Bowling firepower. Electric fielding. Nerves of steel.… pic.twitter.com/M2HxUPsAbP
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) September 13, 2026
Also READ: Top 5 women batters with most centuries in international cricket ft. Smriti Mandhana
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
