The Indian cricket team beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final to clinch a record-extending eighth title at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
India posted 183/5 with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, setting the tone early on with a record opening 129-run partnership in a Women’s Asia Cup final.
Shafali Verma made 68 off 39 balls, while Smriti Mandhana scored 59 from 39 deliveries to hand Sri Lanka a formidable total to chase down.
Spinners Deepti Sharma (3/19) and Shree Charani (4/20) then kept Sri Lanka’s batters under pressure throughout the chase as India reclaimed the Asia Cup title in style.
Chasing 184 to win, Sri Lanka lost opener Imesha Dulani in the first over before captain Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne briefly steadied the innings with a 58-run partnership.
Athapaththu’s dismissal by Deepti Sharma in the 10th over opened the floodgates as India’s spinners took control of the chase. Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani combined for seven wickets, leaving Sri Lanka’s batters unable to build any momentum.
Sri Lanka managed just 50 runs after losing both set batters as India coasted to a convincing victory and avenged their defeat to the hosts in the previous edition’s final.
Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat, India made a flying start, racing to 57 at the end of the powerplay.
The opening pair’s aggressive stand laid the foundation for India’s imposing total. Shafali Verma reached her fifty in just 24 balls and finished with a strike rate of 174.35, while Smriti Mandhana also scored at a healthy rate.
After Smriti Mandhana’s dismissal at 132/2 in the 14th over, Sri Lanka’s bowlers managed to rein in India’s scoring rate. Gunalan Kamalini, however, provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 15 off five balls in the final over.
India women will now turn their attention to the Asian Games 2026, where they start their title defence with a quarter-final match against hosts Japan on Friday.
IND-W vs SL-W, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, brief scores: India 183/5 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 68, Smriti Mandhana 59; Mithali Ayodhya 1/33) beat Sri Lanka 111/10 in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 36; Shree Charani 4/20, Deepti Sharma 3/19) by 72 runs.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/women-asia-cup-2026-india-vs-sri-lanka-cricket-final-report
