India women beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs to win Asian Games 2026 gold
India’s women’s cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final of the Asian Games on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, to retain the gold medal. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side’s victory — India’s first gold of the ongoing edition — was built on a record team total of 216 for three.
Smriti Mandhana scored 79 off 45 and Shafali Verma made 48 off 29 to put India in control from the start, the pair adding 99 for the opening partnership off 60 balls. India reached 59 without loss inside the powerplay and Richa Ghosh (49 not out off 22) accelerated in the closing overs, taking the side to the highest total in Asian Games history and leaving Sri Lanka chasing 217.
Mandhana’s innings featured heavy hitting against the Sri Lankan attack — she smashed left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari for back-to-back sixes in the third over and struck another big blow off the following over from slinger Mithali Ayodhya. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu was handed the ball in the fifth over and conceded 19 runs, including three sixes, two of which came from Shafali.
Sri Lanka’s chase collapsed as Indian spinners ran through the lineup, the visitors being bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs. The report recorded Shafali Verma (48 and 2/3) producing an all-round performance while Deepti Sharma returned figures of (3/6) and Shree Charani took two wickets.
In the middle overs, Shafali was dismissed attempting a reverse sweep off left-arm spinner Chamudi Praboda and Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored 19 off 17, was holed out at long off in the 15th over. Mandhana was caught in the deep off Kumari while seeking a second big hit, and Richa’s cameo included three sixes and seven fours to finish unbeaten.
India entered the tournament as overwhelming favourites and secured three dominant wins en route to the title, with Sri Lanka again unable to match them as they had been in the Asia Cup earlier this month. Pakistan claimed the bronze medal with a comfortable 31-run victory over Bangladesh earlier on Tuesday.
With the script going as planned for the Indian women’s team, the men would also be expected to defend their title.
