India women retain Asian Games cricket gold, beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs
Synopsis
India's women defended their Asian Games cricket gold in style — posting a record 216/3 and bowling Sri Lanka out for 69 in the Nagoya final. Coach Amol Muzumdar called the left-column gold a potential springboard for a streak of medals, and the numbers back his optimism: both editions, both golds.
Key Takeaways
India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the 2026 Asian Games women's cricket final at Nagoya on 22 September 2026 .
India posted 216/3 — the highest total in women's cricket at the Asian Games — before dismissing Sri Lanka for 69 .
Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 79 off 45 balls ; Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls .
Deepti Sharma took 3 wickets ; Shafali Verma and Sree Charani claimed 2 each .
India has now won gold in both editions of the Asian Games in which women's cricket has featured.
The gold is India's first medal of the 2026 Asian Games , with coach Muzumdar predicting a streak to follow.
India's women's cricket team clinched their second successive Asian Games gold medal on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Nagoya, with the total of 216/3 setting the highest score in women's cricket at the Asian Games. The victory handed India its first gold medal of the 2026 edition of the Games, held in the Nisshin-Nagoya region of Japan.
Batting Masterclass Sets the Tone
Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with a blazing 79 off 45 deliveries, while Shafali Verma contributed 48 off 29 balls at the top. Richa Ghosh then accelerated matters with an unbeaten 49 off just 22 balls, collectively propelling India to the highest total ever recorded by a women's side in Asian Games cricket history.
The combined batting performance was the culmination of a preparation process that, according to head coach Amol Muzumdar, began immediately after India's England tour — well before the Asian Games camp officially opened.
Bowlers Complete the Rout
Sri Lanka's chase never gathered any momentum as India's bowlers applied relentless pressure throughout the innings, dismissing the opposition for just 69. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the attack with three wickets, while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani chipped in with two wickets each to seal a comprehensive victory.
Coach Muzumdar on the Gold and What Comes Next
Head coach Muzumdar was effusive in his praise after the win. 'It's been fantastic. I'm really happy that finally that left-hand side column (Gold) has got one medal and I'm sure post this, there'll be a streak of Gold medals for India at the Games hereon,' he said following India's title defence.
Muzumdar highlighted the logistical and physical demands placed on the squad, who arrived in Japan directly after winning the Asia Cup in Dubai. 'Every tournament has got its own significance; every tournament has got its own pressures. The demands are different... coming from Dubai straight into Japan, straight to Tokyo and then to Nagoya, it's been a fabulous journey for everyone,' he added.
The coach also credited a strategically used two-day break between the group-stage match on 18 September and the semifinal on 20 September for allowing players to acclimatise to a hybrid pitch and local overhead conditions — factors that Muzumdar said could have unsettled a less disciplined squad.
Context: A Campaign Built Over Months
India now holds gold medals from both editions in which women's cricket has featured at the Asian Games, underlining a period of sustained dominance in continental cricket. This success follows the Asia Cup triumph in Dubai and comes amid a packed international calendar that tested the squad's depth and adaptability.
Notably, Muzumdar emphasised that the campaign's foundation was laid in a 'superb camp' held immediately after the England series — suggesting the coaching staff approached the Asian Games with the same long-term planning typically reserved for World Cups. With India's gold column now open in 2026, the team will look to build on this momentum as the international season continues.
Point of View
Conditions, and continents. What stands out is the coaching staff's insistence on continuity: a post-England camp laid the groundwork months before the first Asian Games match was played. The real question is whether the BCCI can sustain this investment in women's cricket infrastructure, or whether these golds remain isolated peaks in a still-developing ecosystem. Mandhana, Shafali and Deepti are world-class, but the depth below them will determine whether Muzumdar's 'streak of golds' prophecy holds.
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 defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Nagoya on 22 September 2026, posting 216/3 and bowling Sri Lanka out for 69. It is India's second successive women's cricket gold at the Asian Games.
Who were the top performers for India in the 2026 Asian Games cricket final?
Smriti Mandhana scored 79 off 45 balls, Shafali Verma made 48 off 29, and Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls. With the ball, Deepti Sharma took three wickets while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani claimed two each.
What did India women's cricket coach Amol Muzumdar say after the gold medal win?
Muzumdar said he was 'really happy that finally that left-hand side column (Gold) has got one medal' and expressed confidence that more gold medals would follow for India at future Asian Games editions. He also praised the squad's adaptability in moving from the Asia Cup in Dubai directly to Japan.
How many times have India women won gold in cricket at the Asian Games?
India has won gold in both editions of the Asian Games in which women's cricket has featured, making them the dominant force in the continental event. The 2026 title defence in Nagoya is their most recent triumph.
What challenges did the India women's team face heading into the 2026 Asian Games?
The team dealt with a demanding schedule, travelling directly from the Asia Cup in Dubai to Japan, adjusting to a hybrid pitch and unfamiliar overhead conditions in Nagoya. Coach Muzumdar noted that the preparation had begun months earlier, right after India's England tour, giving the squad a stronger foundation.
