India overcame a dramatic middle-order collapse before producing a dominant bowling performance to beat Thailand by 94 runs in their Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Shafali Verma’s explosive 64 off 36 balls had India cruising at 91/1 after nine overs before Thailand hit back, reducing the seven-time champions to 137/9. A late cameo from Kranti Gaud lifted India to 159/9 before their bowlers made the total look imposing.
Thailand were bowled out for just 65 in 16.1 overs, with Nannapat Koncharoenkai’s 41 accounting for almost two-thirds of their total. Deepti Sharma returned remarkable figures of 3/0 from 1.1 overs, while Nandani Sharma took 3/18 and Shree Charani picked up 2/10.
Deepti Sharma also became the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is with 171 scalps in 150 matches, overtaking Thailand captain Thipatcha Putthawong, who was playing in the same match and now has 170 wickets from 109 appearances.
Deepti also became only the third Indian, after Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, to play 150 T20Is.
Earlier, Thailand opted to field first but India raced out of the blocks.
Smriti Mandhana made 19 off just 10 balls before being run out, while Pratika Rawal contributed 22 off 18 on her T20I debut.
Shafali Verma provided the impetus, hitting eight fours and three sixes in her 36-ball knock. India reached 91/2 after nine overs and looked well placed for a total in excess of 180.
Thailand, however, staged an impressive fightback.
Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for five before Suleeporn Laomi removed Shafali and Richa Ghosh off successive deliveries. From 107/2, India lost seven wickets for 30 runs to slump to 137/9 in the 18th over.
Laomi finished with 3/26, while Sunida Chaturongrattana claimed 2/31.
Gaud ensured India finished strongly, hitting an unbeaten 15 off eight deliveries, including a six and a four, to take the total to 159/9.
Thailand’s chase unravelled almost immediately.
Gaud bowled Natthakan Chantham for four in the opening over before Nandani removed Phannita Maya to leave Thailand 16/2.
Nannapat held the innings together at one end, but wickets continued to tumble around her. Charani dismissed Aphisara Suwanchonrathi and Chanida Sutthiruang before Deepti struck twice in three deliveries as Thailand slipped to 44/6.
Nandani then removed Suleeporn Laomi and Sunida Chaturongrattana off successive balls, while Smriti Mandhana’s run-out of Onnicha Kamchomphu left Thailand nine down.
Deepti returned to dismiss Nannapat for 41 off 48 balls and complete the 94-run victory. Shafali was named Player of the Match for her half-century.
India, the most successful team in Women’s Asia Cup history with seven titles, are in Group A alongside Thailand, Pakistan and Hong Kong China. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. will next face Hong Kong, China on September 3 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium before taking on Pakistan on September 5.
IND-W vs THA-W, Women’s Asia Cup 2026, brief scores: India 159/9 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 64, Pratika Rawal 22; Suleeporn Laomi 3/26) beat Thailand 65/10 in 16.1 overs (Nannapat Koncharoenkai 41; Deepti Sharma 3/0, Nandani Sharma 3/18) by 94 runs.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/women-asia-cup-2026-india-vs-thailand-cricket-match-report
