India Women claimed the Women’s Asia Cup title for a historic seventh time after defeating Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 13. Powered by a record-breaking opening partnership and a stellar bowling performance, the Women in Blue maintained control throughout the fixture to secure another continental crown.
India Batting Innings and Record Partnership
The total stands as the second-highest first-innings score in a Women’s T20I tournament final.
Verma reached her half-century in 24 balls, setting a record for the fastest fifty in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup. Smriti Mandhana supported the effort with a fluent 59 off 39 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. None of Sri Lanka’s bowlers managed to disrupt the top-order rhythm as India posted the fifth-highest total in tournament history.
Sri Lanka Chase and Bowling Collapse
Chasing a target of 184, Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum and collapsed to 111 all out in 20 overs, according to the official scorecard data. Captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scored for Sri Lanka with 36 runs, but the remainder of the batting lineup folded quickly against India’s attack. Imesha Dulani fell early in the first over, and regular wickets stifled any hopes of a successful chase.
Left-arm spinner Shree Charani spearheaded India’s defense with a devastating spell of 4/20 in her four overs, which included a maiden. Charani removed Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, and Sugandika Kumari to dismantle the middle and lower order. Deepti Sharma provided crucial support with three wickets to seal the 72-run victory.
Tournament Milestones and Statistics
The final match marked several individual and team milestones for the India Women squad during the 2026 campaign:
- Tournament Sixes Record: India hit 32 sixes during the Asia Cup, averaging one maximum every 16.62 balls, the highest rate in the tournament.
- Leading Run-Scorer: Shafali Verma finished the competition with 236 runs across five matches at an average of 47.20.
- Partnership Benchmark: The 129-run stand between Mandhana and Verma marked the joint-most 100-plus partnerships in Women’s T20Is.
With the victory, India extends its historic dominance in the regional tournament, adding a seventh Asia Cup trophy to its collection.
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