India claimed their fourth Women’s T20 Asia Cup title on Sunday, September 13, 2026, delivering a comprehensive 72-run victory over Sri Lanka. The result solidified India’s status as the tournament’s standout side, with their openers setting a commanding pace early in the match.
The foundation for the win was a mammoth 129-run opening stand between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. Verma was particularly aggressive, striking the fastest fifty in the history of the T20 Asia Cup, reaching the milestone in just 24 deliveries. Mandhana provided steady support, eventually helping the pair match the world record for the most 100-plus stands in T20I cricket. By the 12th over, India had reached 120/0, effectively taking the game away from the opposition.
India finished with 183/5 after 20 overs, with G Kamalini contributing a final-ball six. Despite the strong start, Sri Lanka managed to break the partnership when Verma fell in the 13th over, followed by a mix-up that resulted in Mandhana’s run-out. Indian middle-order scoring stalled briefly, but they still set a formidable target for the Lankans.
Chasing 184, Sri Lanka’s pursuit faltered immediately. Kranti Gaud removed Imesha Dulani for a cheap score in the opening overs. While captain Chamari Athapaththu offered resistance with a 36-run knock, including a series of boundaries against Prema Rawat, her dismissal via stumping off Deepti Sharma triggered a collapse. Vishmi Gunaratne was removed shortly after, and Shree Charani dismantled the middle order to ensure the result remained in India’s favor.
Aside from Athapaththu and Nilakshika Silva, who managed 22, no other Sri Lankan batter reached double figures. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 111, handing India a 72-run victory. This margin ranks as the second-largest in a final involving five or more teams in Women’s T20Is, trailing only Australia’s 85-run win against India in the 2020 T20 World Cup final.
Brief scores: India Women 183/5 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 68, Smriti Mandhana 59; Mithali Ayodhya 1-33, Chamari Athapaththu 1-34) beat Sri Lanka Women 111 all out in 20 overs (Athapaththu 36, Nilakshika Silva 22; Shree Charani 4-20, Deepti Sharma 3-19) by 72 runs. The report also notes that comfortably the best team of the tournament, India extended their supremacy at the event with a thumping 72-run win, the base for which was set by their openers in the first hour. The report also notes that fetching back-to-back fours off Mithali Ayodhya by guiding one past gully, and nudging the next one to the midwicket fence, verma’s onslaught didn’t begin with savagery but two soft touches. The report also notes that hitting two sixes across four balls to get going, she freed her arms against Chamari Athapaththu. The report also notes that she exploded to smash the fastest fifty in T20 Asia Cups, one ball fewer (24) than Mandhana’s effort in 2022, having started off steadily. The report also notes that this time, Mandhana was happy playing second-fiddle, barely needing to look for shots early on. The report also notes that against Chamudi Praboda, Verma continued the charge, hitting another set of back-to-back fours, punishing loose lengths. The report also notes that soon after, Harmanpreet Kaur and Mandhana were involved in a terrible mix-up, leading to the latter’s run-out.
