Mandhana’s 79 and Richa Ghosh’s explosive finish power India to 216/3 before bowlers dismiss Sri Lanka for 69
Nisshin, Japan, September 22: India produced a commanding all-round performance to retain the women’s cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.
After setting Sri Lanka a formidable target of 217, India dismantled the chase with a disciplined bowling performance, dismissing the opposition for just 69 in 15.4 overs. The victory extended India’s successful run in women’s cricket at the Asian Games and gave the team a gold medal in emphatic fashion.
The foundation for India’s victory was laid by a powerful batting display. India posted 216 for three from their 20 overs, their highest total in the women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games.
Smriti Mandhana led the charge with an impressive 79, combining controlled strokeplay with aggressive hitting to put Sri Lanka under sustained pressure. Shafali Verma also made an important contribution, scoring 48 from 29 balls and helping India make a rapid start.
Mandhana and Shafali put on 99 for the opening wicket, immediately establishing India’s control over the final. Their partnership gave the middle order a platform from which to attack during the closing overs.
Richa Ghosh then provided the acceleration India needed at the end of the innings. The wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten on 49 from just 22 deliveries, striking the ball cleanly as India surged beyond the 200-run mark.
With contributions throughout the innings, India finished on 216 for three, leaving Sri Lanka with a demanding target of more than 10 runs an over.
Sri Lanka’s chase collapses
Sri Lanka began their reply with some intent and reached 41 for two during the powerplay, briefly suggesting that India might face a competitive chase.
That resistance, however, did not last.
India’s bowlers tightened the pressure and wickets began to fall rapidly. Sri Lanka slipped from 41 for two to 49 for six, losing four wickets in a short period and effectively ending any realistic prospect of challenging India’s total.
Deepti Sharma was central to India’s bowling effort, producing a highly economical spell and taking three wickets for six runs in four overs, including a maiden. Her control made it increasingly difficult for Sri Lanka’s batters to find scoring opportunities.
Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil also contributed important breakthroughs as India’s attack maintained pressure from both ends.
Once Sri Lanka’s middle order collapsed, the remainder of the innings became a formality. India eventually bowled them out for 69 in 15.4 overs, completing a 147-run victory.
A complete performance in the final
The margin of victory reflected the difference between the two sides on the day, but India’s success was built across both innings rather than through one individual performance.
The batting unit produced the tournament’s highest women’s total, while the bowlers followed it with sustained pressure and regular wickets.
Mandhana’s innings provided the stability and momentum at the top. Shafali’s aggressive contribution ensured the scoring rate remained high, while Ghosh’s unbeaten late assault turned an already strong total into a daunting one.
The bowlers then ensured that Sri Lanka never established a meaningful partnership during the chase.
For captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her side, the final represented another successful campaign on the Asian Games stage. India had entered the competition after a strong run in women’s international cricket, including an eighth Women’s Asia Cup title earlier in September.
India had also entered the Asian Games final after defeating Bangladesh by 114 runs in the semi-final. Shafali Verma had scored an unbeaten century in that match, while India’s bowlers dismissed Bangladesh for 81.
The final against Sri Lanka therefore completed a tournament in which India’s batting depth and bowling variety remained major features.
Gold secured in emphatic fashion
The victory was also significant because India entered the 2026 Asian Games as the defending women’s cricket champions. The team had won gold in the previous edition, and the latest result ensured that the title remained with India.
The final offered a particularly clear illustration of India’s strength in T20 cricket: an aggressive opening partnership, a powerful finish and a bowling attack capable of turning pressure into wickets.
For Sri Lanka, the final became increasingly difficult after the early wickets. Their total of 69 represented only a fraction of India’s 216, leaving little doubt about the outcome by the closing stages.
For India, however, the scoreboard told only part of the story. The gold medal was the result of a performance in which batting, bowling and fielding combined effectively on the biggest occasion of the tournament.
As the final wicket fell, India completed one of the most comprehensive victories of the 2026 Asian Games, retaining the women’s cricket crown with a 147-run win and adding another major achievement to the country’s growing record in women’s cricket.