India’s Harmanpreet avenges 2024 final defeat, beats Sri Lanka by 72 runs to claim eighth Women’s Asia Cup title

India beat Sri Lanka to claim Asia Cup title (Image: BCCI) India Women are back on top of Asia. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team produced a commanding all-round performance to beat Sri Lanka Women by 72 runs in the final of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, reclaiming the continental crown and avenging their defeat in the 2024 final.After opting to bat first, India posted an impressive 183/5 in 20 overs, powered by a sensational opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. The Indian bowlers then finished the job in emphatic fashion, bowling Sri Lanka out for 111 to seal a comprehensive victory.The win gives India a record eighth Women’s Asia Cup title and underlines their dominance in the continental tournament.

Shafali, Smriti created Indian command unit

India’s innings was built around a devastating opening stand between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana.Shafali smashed 68 off just 39 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes, while Mandhana contributed a fluent 59 off 39 deliveries. Together they added 129 runs for the opening wicket, putting Sri Lanka under immense pressure from the start.Their aggressive batting gave India the perfect platform before the Sri Lankan bowlers fought back with wickets in the middle overs. However, Gunalan Kamalini saw to it with a quickfire 15 not out from just five balls, including a huge six in the final delivery to take India to 183/5.

Sri Lanka keeps itself alive before collapse

Sri Lanka’s chase did not get off to a smooth start as they lost an early wicket, but Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne briefly revived their hopes with a fighting partnership of 58 runs. Athapaththu looked to attack the Indian bowlers while Gunaratne provided valuable support. However, with the rapid increase in the required run rate, both batsmen were forced to take more risks.The breakthrough came at a crucial stage when Athapaththu was dismissed for 36 before Gunaratne followed for 20 in the same over. Their double dismissal effectively broke Sri Lanka’s resistance and decisively turned India’s final path.

India’s spin attack dismantles Sri Lanka

Once the partnership was broken, Sri Lanka’s middle order simply could not withstand India’s relentless bowling attack. The visitors slipped from 63/3 to 103/7 as wickets fell in quick succession. India kept attacking the stumps and denied Sri Lanka any opportunity to revive the innings.Shree Charani was the star with the ball and finished with excellent figures of 4/20 from her four overs. Her spell proved decisive as India continued to squeeze the Sri Lankan batting.Deepti Sharma also played a key role in the bowling effort, adding two crucial wickets to her already impressive tournament tally. She entered the final among the competition’s leading goalscorers with 11 goals in four matches.Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 111 on the last ball of their innings, falling 72 runs short of India’s formidable target.