DUBAI: India produced a dominant performance in the final to defeat defending champions Sri Lanka by 72 runs and lift the Women’s Asia T20 Cup 2026 title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The triumph secured India’s fourth Women’s Asia Cup title in the T20 format and their eighth overall championship across the 50-over and 20-over editions of the tournament.
Mandhana and Verma Set Up India’s Total
India were asked to bat first and posted an imposing 183-5 in their allotted 20 overs, largely thanks to a commanding opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.
Verma led the scoring with an aggressive 68 from 39 deliveries. Her innings included nine fours and two sixes. Mandhana was equally effective, contributing 59 from 39 balls with five fours and three sixes.
The opening pair added 129 runs before Sri Lanka finally broke the partnership in the 13th over, when Chamudi Praboda dismissed Verma.
Mandhana followed soon after, being run out in the next over.
Richa Ghosh then contributed 17 before Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu accounted for her wicket.
India lost two more wickets during the 19th over. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for 14 by Mithali Ayodhya, while Deepti Sharma was run out for five.
India finished strongly, collecting 16 runs from the final over to reach 183-5. Gunalan Kamalini remained unbeaten on 11, while Bharti Fulmali finished on two.
Ayodhya, Athapaththu and Praboda claimed one wicket apiece for Sri Lanka.
India Bowlers Complete Comfortable Victory
Sri Lanka needed 184 runs to retain their title but struggled to build a sustained chase and were bowled out for 111 in their 20 overs.
Athapaththu offered the strongest resistance with 36 from 32 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes. Vishmi Gunaratne scored 20, while Nilakshika Silva added a brisk 22 from 16 deliveries.
India’s Shree Charani was the leading performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 4-20 from her four overs.
Deepti Sharma also made a major contribution by taking three wickets, while Prema Rawat, Shafali Verma and Kranti Gaud claimed one wicket each.
Sri Lanka ultimately fell 72 runs short, handing India a convincing victory and another Women’s Asia Cup crown.
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