Asian Games: India women crush Japan by 8 wickets in gold medal defence opener
Synopsis
India's women didn't just win their Asian Games opener — they demolished it. Sree Charani's 4 for 10 and Shafali Verma's 40 off 15 balls reduced a Japan quarterfinal to a five-over formality, as the defending gold medallists signal they are in no mood to relinquish their title.
Key Takeaways
India women beat Japan by 8 wickets in the Asian Games quarterfinal at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin on 18 September .
Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 40 off 15 balls , including four fours and a match-winning six.
Sree Charani , the world's No.
1 T20I bowler , claimed 4 for 10 in four overs to restrict Japan to 58 .
Shreyanka Patil — returning from injury — and Deepti Sharma also picked up a wicket each.
India will face Bangladesh in the second semifinal on Saturday ; Pakistan vs Sri Lanka is the first semifinal.
India's women's cricket team launched their Asian Games gold medal defence with a commanding eight-wicket victory over hosts Japan in the fourth quarterfinal at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on Friday, 18 September. Powered by an explosive Shafali Verma blitz and a clinical bowling display from Sree Charani, the Women in Blue chased down a meagre 58 in just five overs to advance to the semifinals with ease.
Charani Sets the Platform with 4-Wicket Haul
The foundation of India's win was laid in the field. Sree Charani, ranked the world's No. 1 T20I bowler, was again the stand-out performer with figures of 4 for 10 from her four overs, restricting Japan to a total that was never going to test the Women in Blue. Notably, Charani had previously taken 4 for 20 in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, underscoring her consistency at the highest level.
Shafali Verma chipped in with two wickets alongside her batting heroics, while Shreyanka Patil — returning from a long injury layoff — and Deepti Sharma each claimed one wicket to complete the hosts' dismantling.
Shafali's 40-Ball Blitz Seals Rout
Shafali carried her form straight into the chase, smashing an unbeaten 40 off just 15 balls at the top of the order. Opening alongside a promoted G Kamalini, Shafali immediately took charge, hammering four boundaries in a 17-run first over. Despite the early loss of Kamalini — dismissed for a two-ball duck by Nonoha Yasumoto — and Bharti Fulmali departing for 6 in the third over, Shafali was utterly unfazed.
She struck three more fours before sealing the game with a six in the fifth over. Richa made a brief but useful contribution of 12 off 6 balls, including a couple of fours. The chase was wrapped up with 15 overs to spare — a statement of intent from the defending champions.
India vs Bangladesh: What Comes Next
India will face Bangladesh in the second semifinal on Saturday. Bangladesh progressed after their quarterfinal against China was washed out; as the higher-ranked side, they advanced to the last four without playing. In the first semifinal on Saturday, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka.
Context: Defending a Historic Gold
India are the reigning Asian Games women's cricket gold medallists and entered this tournament as heavy favourites. This comes amid a rich vein of form for the side — Charani's bowling in particular has been a consistent match-winning factor across formats in recent months. The competition format means India will need to win two more matches to retain the gold medal. With the quality of their all-round display against Japan, they will go into Saturday's clash against Bangladesh as firm favourites.
Point of View
While Shafali's power at the top frames the chase template. The tougher questions will come against Bangladesh on Saturday, and a potential final against Pakistan or Sri Lanka beyond that. Retaining gold on home continent soil remains achievable, but nothing about this win tells us how India will cope when the opposition actually compete.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India women perform in the Asian Games 2026 quarterfinal against Japan?
India beat Japan by eight wickets at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on 18 September, chasing down a target of 58 in just five overs. Sree Charani took 4 for 10 and Shafali Verma hit an unbeaten 40 off 15 balls to seal a dominant win.
Who top-scored for India in the chase against Japan?
Shafali Verma was the stand-out batter, scoring an unbeaten 40 off just 15 balls, including four fours and a six that ended the match. Richa contributed 12 off 6 deliveries in a brief but useful cameo.
Who is India's next opponent at the Asian Games 2026?
India will face Bangladesh in the second semifinal on Saturday, 19 September. Bangladesh progressed after their quarterfinal against China was washed out, advancing as the higher-ranked side.
How did Sree Charani perform in the quarterfinal against Japan?
Sree Charani, ranked the world's No. 1 T20I bowler, claimed 4 for 10 in four overs against Japan — her second four-wicket haul in as many matches after taking 4 for 20 in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka.
Who are the other Asian Games women's cricket semifinalists?
The four semifinalists are India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the first semifinal on Saturday, while India take on Bangladesh in the second semifinal on the same day.
