India’s women’s cricket team produced a commanding performance in Dubai on September 13 to lift the Women’s Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The victory capped an unbeaten campaign and reaffirmed India’s dominance in the continental tournament.
Batting first after winning the toss, India posted an imposing 183 for five in 20 overs. The foundation for the big total was laid by openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who produced a spectacular 129-run partnership. Shafali led the assault with a blistering 68 off just 39 balls, while Mandhana contributed a stylish 59 from 39 deliveries.
Shafali was particularly destructive from the beginning. She raced to her half-century in just 24 balls, registering the fastest fifty of the tournament. Her aggressive strokeplay immediately put Sri Lanka under pressure, while Mandhana complemented her with a more fluent and composed innings. Together, the pair gave India the kind of start that allowed the team to dictate the final from the outset.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers managed to slow India’s scoring towards the end, but the early onslaught had already done significant damage. India eventually finished on 183 for five, leaving Sri Lanka with a challenging target of 184 to win the title.
The Sri Lankan chase never truly gathered momentum. Captain Chamari Athapaththu attempted to anchor the innings, but India’s spin attack steadily tightened the pressure. Athapaththu was eventually dismissed for 36, while Sri Lanka’s batting order struggled to cope with India’s disciplined bowling.
The star of India’s bowling effort was young left-arm spinner Shree Charani, who produced a match-winning spell of four wickets for 20 runs. Her accuracy and ability to keep Sri Lanka’s batters under pressure played a decisive role in breaking the chase. Deepti Sharma also made a crucial contribution with three wickets for 19 runs, helping India dismiss Sri Lanka for just 111 in 20 overs.
The result was India’s eighth Women’s Asia Cup title and their fourth championship since the tournament moved to the T20 format. It also continued India’s remarkable record in the competition, with the team reaching the final for the tenth consecutive time. The victory was particularly significant after Sri Lanka had defeated India in the 2024 final.
The tournament also belonged to Shafali Verma individually. She finished as the leading run-scorer with 236 runs from five innings, including three half-centuries, and was named Player of the Match in the final as well as Player of the Series. Her contribution with both bat and ball underlined her growing importance to the Indian side.
The celebrations, however, were accompanied by a separate controversy during the trophy presentation. The Indian team did not accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, president of the Asian Cricket Council and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister. The decision came amid continuing political tensions between India and Pakistan and echoed a similar episode involving the Indian men’s team. The trophy presentation was consequently delayed, while India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India handled the team’s medal distribution.
Despite the controversy surrounding the presentation, the sporting achievement remained clear. India had entered the final as one of the tournament favourites and delivered when it mattered most. Explosive batting at the top, disciplined bowling in the middle overs and an impressive spin attack combined to produce one of their most comprehensive victories of the tournament.
For Indian women’s cricket, the eighth Asia Cup title is another milestone in a growing era of dominance. From Shafali Verma’s fearless hitting and Smriti Mandhana’s elegance to Shree Charani’s decisive spell and Deepti Sharma’s experience, the final showcased the depth and balance of the Indian team.
Sri Lanka arrived as defending champions. India left Dubai as champions of Asia once again.