India women defend Asian Games cricket gold, thrash Sri Lanka by 147 runs
Synopsis
India women didn't just defend their Asian Games cricket gold — they rewrote the record books doing it. Smriti Mandhana's 79 powered a record 216/3, she became the first woman to 11,000 international runs, and the bowlers skittled Sri Lanka for 69. Back-to-back Asiad gold medals against the same opponents; India are in a class of their own in Asian women's cricket.
Key Takeaways
India women beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the Asian Games cricket final on 22 September at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin .
Smriti Mandhana scored 79 off 45 balls and became the first player in women's cricket to complete 11,000 international runs .
India posted 216/3 — the highest score in Asian Games women's cricket and the highest total in any women's T20 final .
Deepti Sharma took 3 for 6 ; Shafali Verma and Sree Charani took 2 wickets each as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 .
This is India's first gold and seventh medal overall at the ongoing Asian Games; they have now won back-to-back cricket gold medals at the Asiad.
India women defended their Asian Games cricket gold medal in dominant fashion at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on 22 September, demolishing Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final to complete a back-to-back title triumph. The Women in Blue excelled with both bat and ball, posting a record 216/3 before bundling Sri Lanka out for a meagre 69.
Historic batting display
Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with a blistering 79 off 45 balls, striking seven sixes and five fours. In the process, she became the first player in women's cricket to reach 11,000 international runs — a landmark moment in the sport's history. Shafali Verma, fresh from her maiden white-ball century in the semifinal against Bangladesh, contributed a quick-fire 48 off 29 balls with three fours and three sixes.
The finishing touches came from Richa Ghosh, who blazed an unbeaten 49 off 22 deliveries, and Bharti Fulmali, who chipped in with a run-a-ball seven. India's total of 216/3 is the highest score in Asian Games women's cricket history, surpassing the 202/4 posted by Hong Kong women against Mongolia in the 2023 Hangzhou Games. It is also the highest total in a women's T20 final anywhere, going past the previous record of 210 set by Brazil women in a quadrangular series final against Spain in July 2026.
Bowlers seal the deal
Deepti Sharma led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 6, while Shafali Verma, Deepti, and Sree Charani — the No. 1-ranked women's T20I bowler — each claimed two wickets. Shafali triggered the collapse by removing openers Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera, before Deepti dismissed Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for 29, caught at long-off, to effectively end the contest. Shreyanka Patil completed the rout by clean-bowling Kaushani Nuthyangana for 14, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 — never threatening the target at any stage.
Medal context and broader significance
The gold is India's first medal of the ongoing Asian Games and the team's seventh overall at the Asiad. Notably, India had won the cricket gold at the previous edition and have now defended the title against the same opponents — Sri Lanka — in consecutive finals. The commanding victory underscores the depth and maturity of Indian women's cricket, which has emerged as one of Asia's dominant forces across formats.
Brief Scores
India 216/3 (Smriti Mandhana 79 off 45 balls; Richa Ghosh 49* off 22 balls; Chamudi Praboda 1–34, Kavisha Dilhari 1–35) beat Sri Lanka 69 (Chamari Athapaththu 29 off 21 balls; Deepti Sharma 3–6, Shafali Verma 2–3) by 147 runs.
With back-to-back Asian Games gold medals now in the bag, India's women will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming bilateral fixtures.
Point of View
000-run milestone adds a historical footnote, but the more telling number is Sri Lanka's 69 all out: a target of 217 was never remotely threatened. What mainstream coverage underplays is that this is the third successive Asian Games final where India have faced limited opposition; the real competitive test will come against Australia and England, not Asian rivals. The record total and the milestone run tally will generate justified celebration, but Indian women's cricket needs elite bilateral pressure — not gold-medal cakewalks — to close that final gap at the World Cup level.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the India vs Sri Lanka women's cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games?
India beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the Asian Games women's cricket final on 22 September at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin. India scored a record 216/3 and bowled Sri Lanka out for 69.
What record did Smriti Mandhana set in the Asian Games final?
Smriti Mandhana became the first player in women's cricket history to complete 11,000 international runs, achieving the milestone during her knock of 79 off 45 balls in the gold medal match against Sri Lanka.
Is India's 216/3 a world record in women's T20 cricket finals?
Yes, India's 216/3 is both the highest score in Asian Games women's cricket history and the highest total in any women's T20 final, surpassing the 210 scored by Brazil women in a quadrangular series final against Spain in July 2026.
Who were the top performers for India in the final?
With the bat, Smriti Mandhana (79 off 45) and Richa Ghosh (49* off 22) starred. With the ball, Deepti Sharma took 3 for 6, while Shafali Verma, Deepti, and Sree Charani each took two wickets to bowl Sri Lanka out for 69.
How many medals has India won at the 2026 Asian Games so far?
The women's cricket gold is India's first gold and seventh overall medal at the ongoing Asian Games. India have now defended the cricket gold they won at the previous edition of the Games.
