On Tuesday, September 22, India won the Gold medal once again at the Asian Games after their triumph in 2023. It was a repeat of the Women’s Asia Cup final in Dubai earlier this month, where India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to clinch the title. This time, Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. registered an even more convincing victory, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs.
After India won the toss and opted to bat first, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma got them off to a flying start. They added 99 runs in 10 overs before Shafali was dismissed for 48. Harmanpreet got off to a start but couldn’t capitalise as she was dismissed for 19. However, Mandhana played a brilliant knock, smashing 79 off just 45 balls. Richa Ghosh provided the flourish at the end, amassing an unbeaten 49 off 22 deliveries.
India finished on 216/3 in 20 overs. In the second innings, only three Sri Lankan batters reached double-figures, as the Island nation was bowled out for 69. Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with a 21-ball 29. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for India, bagging a three-for. Three other spinners, Shafali, Shreyanka Patil, and Shree Charani, chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Top batting performance — Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana used her experience to good effect. The southpaw played a delightful knock under pressure. She batted till the 17th over and scored 79 runs off 45 balls, hitting five fours and seven sixes. Mandhana’s innings finished with a strike rate of 175.56.
Smriti Mandhana is taking the attack apart with another back-to-back boundary burst! 🏏
Watch Sri Lanka vs India, in the Women’s Cricket Final at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #AsianGames… pic.twitter.com/pF0w3GQrhf
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 22, 2026
Best bowling spell — Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma produced another magical spell with the ball. The all-rounder bowled four overs, giving away just six runs and picked up three wickets. Her spell also included one maiden. Athapaththu, Kavisha Dilhari, and Sugandika Kumari fell victim to Deepti’s crafty off-spin.
Chamari Athapaththu goes after the wide delivery, miscues it – and India have their big wicket. 🏏
Watch Sri Lanka vs India, in the Women’s Cricket Final at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV… pic.twitter.com/spJjRD8CRo
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 22, 2026
Records broken and milestone achieved
- Sri Lanka last beat India in the 2024 Asia Cup final. Since then, India Women have won eight consecutive T20Is against them.
- India stretched their winning streak to eight in the T20I format. This is their longest winning streak in T20Is, surpassing the seven-win run in 2018.
- 147-run defeat for Sri Lanka is their biggest in terms of runs in the T20I format.
- This is also the biggest victory margin for India in terms of runs scored.
