Women’s cricket team bring India’s first gold in Asiad 2026

Nisshin: India emerged undisputed in Asian Games women’s cricket, retaining the gold medal by beating Sri Lanka by a humongous margin of 147 runs in the final. A dominating performance by the team saw Sri Lanka crippling under pressure in all aspects of the game.

Opener Smriti Mandhana scored a sensational innings, scoring 79 off just 45 deliveries for the defending champions. Mandhana partnered with in-form Shafali Verma, 48 (29), to produce a 99-run partnership in the opening wicket. Indian wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh played a fiery innings, scoring an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls towards the end of the first innings, taking India to a blazing total of 216 for 3. Mandhana's 45-ball innings included seven sixes and five fours, becoming the first woman cricketer to score 11000 runs in international cricket.

Coming on to chase down such a huge target, Sri Lanka failed to find answers to India’s disciplined bowling unit. Deepthi Sharma’s economical spell, picking up 3 wickets while conceding only 6 runs, led the charts in the Indian bowling department. Shafali and Sree Charani contributed with 2 wickets each, forcing the Sri Lankan side to collapse under pressure. With moments away from success, Shreyanka Patil dismissed Kaushini Nuthyangana to secure the first gold for India in the Asian Games 2026.

Breif Score:
India: 216 for 3 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 79(45), Shafali Verma 48(29), Richa Ghosh 49(22); Chamodi Praboda 34/1).

Sri Lanka: 69 all out in 15.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 29(21); Deepthi Sharma 6/3, Shafali Verma 3/2).