India Women defeated Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final in Dubai, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana starring before Sree Charani’s four-wicket spell sealed the title.
Table of Contents
Match Information
Key details from the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final between India Women and Sri Lanka Women.
Quick Scorecard
India Women posted 183/5 before bowling Sri Lanka Women out for 111 in 20 overs.
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| India Women | 183/5 | 20 | Won |
| Sri Lanka Women | 111 all out | 20 | Lost |
Match Summary
India Women beat Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final in Dubai, securing a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title.
India Women produced a dominant all-round performance in the final, posting 183/5 in their 20 overs before dismissing Sri Lanka Women for 111. The 72-run victory completed an unbeaten campaign for Harmanpreet Kaur’s side and extended India’s record as the most successful team in the Women’s Asia Cup.
The foundation of India’s total was laid by openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. The pair added 129 runs in 12.5 overs, with Shafali scoring 68 from 39 balls and Mandhana making 59 from 39. Shafali reached her fifty from just 24 balls, setting the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history.
Sri Lanka’s chase never developed the same momentum. Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne briefly rebuilt the innings with a 58-run partnership, but Deepti Sharma removed both batters in the 10th over. Sree Charani then took control with four wickets for 20 runs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111 in 20 overs.
India Women Innings
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave India a commanding start before Sri Lanka fought back late in the innings.
Powerplay: India Start on the Front Foot
India Women reached 57 without losing a wicket during the Powerplay, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana immediately putting pressure on the Sri Lankan attack. Both openers found boundaries regularly and ensured India had a strong platform for the middle overs.
129-Run Opening Partnership
The opening pair continued their aggressive approach and added 129 runs in 12.5 overs. Mandhana scored 59 from 39 balls, while Shafali struck 68 from 39 balls. Shafali brought up her fifty from just 24 deliveries, setting the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history.
India reached 98 without loss at the halfway stage, putting the final firmly in their control. Sri Lanka eventually broke the partnership, but the damage had already been done after the two openers had provided India with a substantial scoring base.
Middle Overs: Sri Lanka Pull Things Back
After the opening stand was broken, Sri Lanka managed to restrict India’s scoring rate compared with the first half of the innings. India moved to 140/2 after 15 overs and lost further wickets as they looked to accelerate again.
Final Five Overs: India Finish on 183/5
India added 43 runs during the final five overs to finish on 183/5 after 20 overs. Richa Ghosh contributed 17 from 13 balls, Harmanpreet Kaur made 14 from 14, and Gunalan Kamalini provided a late boost with an unbeaten 15 from just five deliveries.
Sri Lanka Women Chase
Sri Lanka Women struggled for momentum after losing early wickets and were eventually bowled out for 111 in 20 overs.
Early Phase: India Strike Early
Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a difficult start as India’s bowlers kept the required scoring rate under pressure. The innings never established the momentum needed to chase 184, leaving Sri Lanka dependent on a substantial partnership in the middle overs.
Athapaththu and Gunaratne Rebuild
Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne provided Sri Lanka with their best period of the chase. The pair added 58 runs for the second wicket, briefly giving their side a platform from which to challenge India’s total.
Athapaththu top-scored for Sri Lanka with 36 from 32 balls, while Gunaratne contributed 20. Their partnership slowed India’s momentum for a period, but the breakthrough that followed changed the direction of the chase.
Deepti Sharma Breaks the Resistance
Deepti Sharma dismissed both Athapaththu and Gunaratne in the 10th over, removing Sri Lanka’s main source of stability. The wickets exposed the lower order and shifted the contest decisively back in India’s favour.
Sree Charani Completes the Collapse
Sree Charani then delivered a decisive spell, finishing with 4/20. India continued taking wickets as Sri Lanka’s chase lost momentum, with Nilakshika Silva making 22 from 16 balls but unable to prevent the innings from collapsing.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 111 in 20 overs, falling 72 runs short of India’s 183/5.
Turning Point
Deepti Sharma’s double strike in the 10th over ended Sri Lanka’s strongest partnership and shifted the final firmly in India’s favour.
Sri Lanka had briefly stabilised their chase through Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne. Their 58-run second-wicket partnership gave Sri Lanka some momentum after the difficult start and offered a potential route back into the contest.
The decisive change came when Deepti Sharma dismissed both Athapaththu and Gunaratne in the 10th over. Athapaththu had made 36 from 32 balls and was Sri Lanka’s leading scorer, while Gunaratne had contributed 20. Losing both batters in the same over removed the partnership that had been holding the innings together.
India then capitalised with sustained pressure from their spin attack. Sree Charani finished with 4/20, and Sri Lanka were unable to rebuild another meaningful partnership as wickets continued to fall.
Sri Lanka needed Athapaththu and Gunaratne to extend their partnership deep into the chase. Deepti’s double strike instead exposed the lower order and allowed India to control the remainder of the innings.
Key Performances
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma played the defining roles in India Women’s title-winning performance.
Shafali Verma Sets the Tone
Shafali Verma delivered the most explosive batting performance of the final, scoring 68 from 39 balls. Her aggressive approach helped India build a dominant opening platform and put Sri Lanka under pressure from the start.
Shafali also reached her fifty from just 24 balls, setting the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history. Her innings included eight fours and three sixes.
Smriti Mandhana Provides a Strong Foundation
Smriti Mandhana complemented Shafali perfectly at the other end, scoring 59 from 39 balls. The pair added 129 runs for the opening wicket, giving India control of the first half of the innings.
Sree Charani Leads the Bowling Attack
Sree Charani was India’s leading wicket-taker, finishing with 4/20 from her four overs. Her spell proved crucial once Sri Lanka lost the wickets of Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne.
Deepti Sharma Delivers the Key Double Strike
Deepti Sharma played a major role in breaking Sri Lanka’s resistance. She dismissed both Athapaththu and Gunaratne in the 10th over, ending Sri Lanka’s most productive partnership and opening the way for India’s spin-led collapse.
Why India Women Won
India’s victory was built on a dominant opening stand, a competitive total and disciplined spin bowling.
Dominant Opening Partnership
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana added 129 runs for the opening wicket. Their aggressive start gave India control before Sri Lanka could make a significant impact with the ball.
Strong First-Innings Total
India reached 183/5 in 20 overs. Although Sri Lanka restricted the scoring during the final five overs, the early platform gave India a sizeable total to defend.
Spin Attack Seals the Chase
Deepti Sharma’s double strike removed Sri Lanka’s main partnership before Sree Charani finished with 4/20. India kept taking wickets and bowled Sri Lanka out for 111.
Why Sri Lanka Women Lost
Sri Lanka showed brief resistance but could not sustain partnerships or scoring momentum against India’s bowling attack.
Slow Start to the Chase
Chasing 184, Sri Lanka needed a strong beginning but struggled to build the required scoring rate. The early pressure made the target increasingly difficult to chase.
Key Partnership Broken
Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne added 58 runs for the second wicket, but Deepti Sharma dismissed both batters in the 10th over. Sri Lanka could not build another substantial partnership afterwards.
Lower Order Under Pressure
Once the main partnership was broken, India’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Sree Charani’s 4/20 helped prevent Sri Lanka from recovering as the innings ended at 111 all out.
Key Stats & Records
India’s title-winning performance produced several notable numbers, led by Shafali Verma’s record-breaking fifty.
| Statistic | Figure | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| India Women’s score | 183/5 | Set a challenging target in the Asia Cup final. |
| Winning margin | 72 runs | India completed a comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka. |
| Shafali Verma | 68 off 39 | Provided the explosive start that shaped India’s innings. |
| Fastest fifty | 24 balls | Fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history. |
| Opening partnership | 129 runs | Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana dominated the first half of the innings. |
| Smriti Mandhana | 59 off 39 | Added stability and aggression alongside Shafali. |
| Sree Charani | 4/20 | Led India’s bowling attack as Sri Lanka collapsed. |
| India Women’s Asia Cup titles | 8 | Extended India’s record as the most successful team in the tournament. |
Tournament Impact
India Women’s 72-run victory completed an unbeaten campaign and extended their dominance in the Women’s Asia Cup.
The victory gave India Women their record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side remained unbeaten throughout the 2026 tournament, underlining their consistency across the campaign.
The triumph also carried added significance after Sri Lanka had defeated India in the 2024 final. India responded two years later with a comprehensive performance, controlling both the bat and ball to reclaim the continental title.
India had entered the final after defeating Bangladesh by 40 runs in the semi-final, while Sri Lanka secured their place in the title clash after beating Pakistan. The final therefore brought together two sides that had successfully navigated the knockout stage before India produced the stronger performance in Dubai.
Post-Match Developments
India’s title celebration in Dubai was followed by a delayed trophy presentation and a notable ceremony development.
Following India Women’s victory, the trophy presentation did not take place in the usual manner. Reports said the Indian team did not receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the ceremony, which led to a delay in the presentation.
The development came after India completed their record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title with a 72-run win over Sri Lanka. The medals were subsequently distributed, while the trophy presentation remained a separate point of discussion after the final.
What’s Next
India Women now turn their attention to the next phase of their international schedule after completing an unbeaten Asia Cup campaign.
With the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 title secured, India Women leave the tournament as unbeaten champions. The focus will now shift from continental success to the team’s upcoming international assignments and preparations for the next major challenge.
For Sri Lanka Women, the final defeat ends their Asia Cup campaign as runners-up. The team will look to assess the lessons from the tournament, particularly their batting consistency and ability to build partnerships against high-quality bowling attacks.
India Women
India will carry the confidence of an unbeaten title-winning campaign into their upcoming international commitments.
Sri Lanka Women
Sri Lanka will look to build on their run to the final and strengthen their batting and bowling combinations for future fixtures.
FAQs
Key questions about India Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final victory over Sri Lanka Women.
India Women won the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, defeating Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in Dubai.
India Women scored 183/5 in their 20 overs.
Shafali Verma scored 68 runs from 39 balls in the final.
Sree Charani was India’s leading wicket-taker with figures of 4/20.
India Women have won the Women’s Asia Cup a record eight times, including the 2026 edition.
Chamari Athapaththu was Sri Lanka’s top scorer with 36 runs from 32 balls.
Final Verdict
India Women delivered a complete performance to reclaim the Women’s Asia Cup in dominant fashion.
India Women’s 72-run victory over Sri Lanka was built on a brilliant 129-run opening stand, a strong total of 183/5 and a disciplined bowling performance. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana set the platform, while Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma ensured Sri Lanka’s chase never gathered sustained momentum.
The result secured India’s record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title and completed an unbeaten campaign, making them deserved champions of the 2026 tournament.
Sources
Match result, player performances, tournament context and post-match developments were verified against authoritative and established cricket sources.
- ICC Cricket: India cruise to record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title
- ThePrint / PTI: India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs, clinch eighth Women’s Asia Cup title
- Indian Express: How Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana powered India to the title
- ICC Cricket — Semi-Final: Dominant India enter Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final
- ICC Cricket — Sri Lanka Semi-Final: Sri Lanka hold their nerve to reach Asia Cup final
- Associated Press: India wins women’s Asia Cup but yet again refuses to take trophy from Pakistani official
