DUBAI: India secured the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 title with a dominant 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in Dubai.
Batting first, India posted a formidable total of 183 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted overs, anchored by a brilliant 129-run opening partnership between Shafali Verma, who scored 68, and Smriti Mandhana, who contributed 59.
In response, the Sri Lankan batting lineup struggled against disciplined Indian bowling and was bundled out for just 111 runs. Captain Chamari Athapaththu offered the primary resistance with 36 runs alongside Vishmi Gunaratne during a brief 59-run second-wicket partnership, but it proved insufficient.
Charani led the Indian bowling attack with four wickets, supported by Deepti Sharma, who claimed three. En route to the final, India defeated Bangladesh in the semi-finals, while Sri Lanka overcame Pakistan.
Asian Cricket Council President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi graced the occasion as the guest of honor to present the trophy to the victorious team.
The Women’s Asia Cup stands as the premier regional T20 and One Day International cricket tournament organized by the Asian Cricket Council, showcasing elite cricketing talent across the continent.
Inaugurated in 2004 as a 50-over competition hosted by Sri Lanka, the tournament was initially dominated by the Indian women’s team, which established an unprecedented winning streak by capturing the first several consecutive editions.
Over the years, the competition has evolved significantly, adapting to the modern global shift toward the Twenty20 format to align with international World Cup preparations and maximize broadcast engagement.
While India has historically remained the undisputed powerhouse of the tournament with multiple championship titles to its name, regional competitors such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have steadily elevated their competitive standards, frequently producing thrilling upsets and intensely contested matches.
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The expansion of the tournament reflects the rapid growth, professionalization, and surging popularity of women’s cricket across South Asia, providing a vital platform for athletes to showcase international-tier skills, gain high-pressure tournament experience, and inspire upcoming generations of female cricketers across the participating nations.
