IND W vs SL W: Shafali-Mandhana Star as India Beat Sri Lanka by 72 Runs, Win 8th Asia Cup Title

India Women produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final and lift the continental title for a record eighth time. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana smashed half-centuries before Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma dismantled Sri Lanka’s chase.

Batting first after winning the toss, India posted 183/5 in 20 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111 in 20 overs, giving India a comprehensive 72-run victory and allowing Harmanpreet Kaur’s side to avenge the defeat suffered against Sri Lanka in the 2024 final.

Shafali Verma Sets the Tone With Explosive Fifty

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana immediately put Sri Lanka under pressure.

Shafali played aggressively from the outset and reached her half-century in just 24 balls, registering the fastest fifty in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history. She eventually scored 68 runs off 39 balls, including nine fours and two sixes.

Her explosive innings provided India with the perfect start in the final.

Smriti Mandhana Completes Another Half-Century

Smriti Mandhana complemented Shafali brilliantly at the other end. After taking some time to settle, the left-hander accelerated and scored 59 runs off 39 balls.

The two openers added a magnificent 129 runs for the first wicket, breaking the previous Women’s T20 Asia Cup record of 128 held by Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma.

Their partnership also took their tally of 100-plus partnerships in Women’s T20Is to six, joint-most.

India’s Middle Order Cannot Maintain the Same Momentum

India were in a commanding position after the explosive opening stand, but Sri Lanka fought back during the latter stages of the innings.

Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for 14, while Richa Ghosh made 17. Gunalan Kamalini provided a late boost with an unbeaten 15 off five balls as India finished on 183/5.

Despite the middle-order slowdown, India had already built a sufficiently strong total thanks to the Mandhana-Shafali partnership.

Shree Charani, Deepti Sharma Destroy Sri Lanka’s Chase

Sri Lanka needed 184 runs to win but lost Imesha Dulani early. Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne briefly steadied the innings, but India’s bowlers kept the pressure on.

The decisive breakthrough came from Shree Charani, who returned outstanding figures of 4/20 in four overs. Deepti Sharma claimed 3/19, while India’s bowling attack gradually dismantled the Sri Lankan batting order.

Sri Lanka eventually collapsed from 62/1 and were all out for 111, with captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scoring with 36.

India Avenge 2024 Asia Cup Final Defeat

The victory carried extra significance for India after Sri Lanka defeated them in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final.

Two years later, India turned the tables in emphatic fashion, defeating the defending champions by 72 runs in Dubai and reclaiming the continental crown.

India Win Women’s Asia Cup for Record 8th Time

With this triumph, India extended their record to eight Women’s Asia Cup titles. The victory also underlined India’s dominance in the tournament, having reached every final played so far.

India 183/5 (20 overs)

Shafali Verma 68 (39), Smriti Mandhana 59 (39)

Sri Lanka 111 all out (20 overs)

Chamari Athapaththu 36

India won by 72 runs.

Shree Charani: 4/20

Deepti Sharma: 3/19

India are now the record eight-time Women’s Asia Cup champions, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana leading the batting charge and Shree Charani spearheading a superb bowling display in the final.