Asian Games 2026: Mandhana's 79 powers India women to record 216/3 vs Sri Lanka
Synopsis
Smriti Mandhana didn't just dominate Sri Lanka — she rewrote history. Her 79 off 45 balls made her the first woman to 11,000 international runs, while Richa Ghosh's 49* off 22 balls (including 25 in the final over) drove India to 216/3, the highest score ever in a Women's Asian Games and in any Women's T20 final.
Key Takeaways
India Women posted 216/3 against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games gold medal final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin on 22 September 2026 .
Smriti Mandhana scored 79 off 45 balls (7 sixes, 5 fours) and became the first player in women's cricket to reach 11,000 international runs .
Shafali Verma made 48 off 29 balls ; she and Mandhana added a 99-run opening stand .
Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls , including 25 runs in the final over .
The total is the highest in Women's Asian Games history , surpassing Hong Kong's 202/4 from Hangzhou 2023 , and the highest in any Women's T20 final , beating 210 by Brazil in July 2026.
Smriti Mandhana's blazing 79 off 45 balls and Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 49 off 22 balls propelled India Women to a record-breaking 216/3 against Sri Lanka in the Women's Asian Games gold medal final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin on 22 September 2026. The total is the highest in the history of the Women's Asian Games and the highest score ever posted in a Women's T20 final.
A Historic Batting Performance
Mandhana was the centrepiece of a blistering India innings, smashing seven sixes and five fours in her 45-ball knock. In the process, she became the first player in women's cricket to reach 11,000 runs in international cricket — a milestone that underlined her status as the game's pre-eminent batter. Shafali Verma was equally aggressive at the top, contributing 48 off 29 deliveries with three fours and three sixes, carrying the momentum from her maiden white-ball century in the semifinal against Bangladesh.
The pair put on a 99-run opening stand, with Mandhana hitting four sixes in the powerplay alone and Shafali adding two. India raced to 67/0 before Shafali was dismissed attempting a reverse hit. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a steady 19 off 17 balls before being caught at long-on in the 15th over. Mandhana's stay ended in the 17th over, holing out to deep mid-wicket.
Richa Ghosh's Match-Winning Finish
With the platform set, Richa Ghosh was promoted to No. 4 to accelerate the finish — and she delivered emphatically. Her unbeaten 49 off 22 balls included a stunning 25 runs off the final over, taking India from a formidable position to an almost unassailable one. Bharti Fulmali also chipped in with a run-a-ball 7 to help India close at 216/3.
Two Records Broken in One Innings
India's total surpassed the previous Women's Asian Games record of 202/4, set by Hong Kong against Mongolia at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. It also eclipsed the previous highest score in a Women's T20 final — 210, set by Brazil Women in a quadrangular series final against Spain in July 2026. This is the second consecutive record-breaking batting effort by this India side in the Nisshin tournament.
Brief Scorecard
India Women: 216/3 — Smriti Mandhana 79 off 45 balls, Richa Ghosh 49* off 22 balls; Chamudi Praboda 1/34, Kavisha Dilhari 1/35 — vs Sri Lanka Women.
The gold medal match continues, with Sri Lanka now chasing a record target in women's Asian Games history.
Point of View
000-run landmark is history, but the more tactically significant detail is that Richa Ghosh at No. 4 plundered 25 off the last over, suggesting India now have a death-overs batter they have long lacked in the women's format. Breaking both the Asian Games and T20 final records in one innings also puts Sri Lanka in an almost impossible psychological position as chasers. The concern, if any, is whether India's bowling can back up a batting performance of this magnitude.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did India Women set in the Asian Games 2026 final?
India Women posted 216/3 against Sri Lanka, the highest total in Women's Asian Games history and the highest score in any Women's T20 final. The previous Asian Games record was 202/4 by Hong Kong against Mongolia at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
What milestone did Smriti Mandhana achieve in this match?
Smriti Mandhana became the first player in women's cricket to complete 11,000 international runs during her knock of 79 off 45 balls. She hit seven sixes and five fours in the innings.
How did Richa Ghosh perform in the Asian Games gold medal final?
Richa Ghosh scored an unbeaten 49 off just 22 deliveries, including 25 runs in the final over, after being promoted to No. 4. Her blitz was the decisive factor in pushing India past 200.
What was the previous highest score in a Women's T20 final?
The previous highest score in a Women's T20 final was 210, set by Brazil Women in a quadrangular series final against Spain in July 2026. India's 216/3 surpassed that mark.
Who were the top contributors in India's innings against Sri Lanka?
Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 79 off 45 balls, Shafali Verma made 48 off 29, Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 49 off 22, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 19 off 17. Bharti Fulmali added a run-a-ball 7 at the close.
