India Beat Sri Lanka by 72 Runs to Win Asia Cup Title

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 14 September 2026

India secured a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on September 13, 2026. The victory completed an unbeaten campaign for Harmanpreet Kaur’s side and marked India’s eighth triumph in nine Women’s Asia Cup finals.

Key Highlights:

• India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win the Asia Cup
• Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana powered India to 183/5
• Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma dismantled Sri Lanka’s chase

Batting first, India posted 183/5 in 20 overs, with openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana producing a spectacular start. The pair forged a record 129-run opening partnership in a Women’s Asia Cup final, putting Sri Lanka under pressure from the outset.

Verma led the charge with 68 from 39 deliveries, including a remarkable 24-ball half-century, the fastest fifty in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history. The opener struck four boundaries and two sixes during her aggressive innings. Mandhana contributed 59 from 39 balls, reaching her half-century from 35 deliveries.

Sri Lanka eventually ended the opening stand in the 13th over when 17-year-old Chamudi Praboda dismissed Verma. Mandhana was subsequently run out for 59, but India continued to push towards a competitive total. Late wickets slowed their progress before G Kamalini struck a six to take India to 183/5.

Sri Lanka began their chase positively, but India’s spin attack soon took control. Captain Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunarathne added 58 for the second wicket, briefly raising hopes of a competitive chase. However, Deepti Sharma dismissed both batters in quick succession to shift momentum decisively towards India.

Shree Charani then delivered a match-winning spell, taking 4/20. She removed Harshita Samarawickrama with a sharp return catch before striking twice in three deliveries to dismiss Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva. Deepti Sharma added 3/19 as India dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order.

Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 111 in 19.4 overs, handing India a comprehensive 72-run victory. Athapaththu top-scored with 36, but the team could not recover after India’s spinners broke through.

The triumph also avenged India’s defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2024 final. Verma finished the tournament with 236 runs from five innings, including three half-centuries, and earned praise from captain Harmanpreet for her consistent contributions with bat and ball.

India’s emphatic victory, however, was followed by controversy surrounding the trophy presentation. The Indian team did not collect the winners’ trophy and medals from Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan Cricket Board, during the official presentation.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said India had no regrets about the decision, explaining that the team’s priority was winning the tournament. He added that the women’s team acted in solidarity with the Indian men’s team’s earlier decision and said the situation followed tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 2025 Pahalgam incident.

Despite the presentation controversy, India’s performance remained the defining story of the tournament, as the team maintained its continental dominance and extended its Women’s Asia Cup record to eight titles.