India Women beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the Asian Games 2026 final as Harmanpreet Kaur’s side won gold with a dominant display in Japan
New Delhi/Japan:India Women crushed Sri Lanka Women by 147 runs in the Women’s Asian Games 2026 cricket final on September 22 to win the gold medal at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led India to a commanding victory after her team posted 216/3 in 20 overs and then bowled Sri Lanka out for just 69. The result gave India their first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games. It also marked back-to-back Asian Games gold medals for India’s women’s cricket team after their triumph in the previous edition, held in Hangzhou in 2023.
Toss and conditions
India won the toss and chose to bat first in the final, which started at 2:00 PM local time (10:30 AM IST). The decision immediately put the onus on India’s powerful batting unit to set the tone, and the top order delivered with an aggressive approach from the start.
Saleema Imtiaz and Shathira Jakir officiated as the on-field umpires, while Shivani Mishra served as the third umpire. Supriya Das was the match referee.
Smriti Mandhana anchors a big total
India built their huge total around Smriti Mandhana, who produced the team’s highest score. The left-hander smashed 79 off 45 balls, hitting 5 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 175.56.
Mandhana combined control with aggression and kept India’s scoring rate high throughout her stay. She fell after putting India in a strong position, with Kavisha Dilhari taking the catch off Sugandika Kumari.
Before that, Shafali Verma had already given India a flying start. She made 48 off 29 balls, with 3 fours and 3 sixes, striking at 165.52. Sri Lanka finally broke the opening stand when Kavya Kavindi caught Shafali off Chamudi Praboda at 99-1 after 9.6 overs.
Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh add the firepower
Shafali’s attacking innings ensured India never allowed Sri Lanka to settle into the contest. Mandhana then carried the momentum, while Harmanpreet added 19 off 17 balls, including 3 fours.
The captain fell at 141-2 after 14.4 overs, with Chamari Athapaththu taking the catch off Kavisha Dilhari.
India still had plenty of power left in the dressing room. Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh turned the final overs into a brutal hitting display, smashing an unbeaten 49 off just 22 balls.
Ghosh struck 6 fours and 3 sixes and finished with a remarkable strike rate of 222.73. Her late assault pushed India well beyond the 200-run mark.
India post a mammoth 216
India finished on 216/3 in 20 overs, scoring at 10.8 runs per over. Bharti Fulmali remained unbeaten on 7 off 7 balls, while India added 14 extras, including 1 bye and 13 wides.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to contain India’s attacking batting. Sugandika Kumari, Kavisha Dilhari and Chamudi Praboda took one wicket each, but none of Sri Lanka’s six bowlers conceded at less than 8.5 runs an over.
With 217 required for victory, Sri Lanka needed an extraordinary chase to stay in the final.
Sri Lanka’s chase collapses
Instead, India’s bowlers and fielders kept the pressure firmly on Sri Lanka. The chase never developed into a serious contest, and Sri Lanka eventually folded for just 69.
India bowled Sri Lanka out without allowing the chasing side to build the kind of substantial partnership it needed. The difference between the two teams became clear as Sri Lanka failed to get close to India’s enormous first-innings total.
India’s target of 217 proved far beyond Sri Lanka’s reach, and the final ended with a huge margin in India’s favour.
The final numbers: a 147-run demolition
India won by 147 runs, meaning Sri Lanka finished 147 runs behind India’s total after being bowled out for 69.
For a 20-over match, that represents an extremely one-sided margin. India scored 216 runs from their 20 overs, while Sri Lanka managed only 69 before losing all their wickets.
The key figures tell the story: 216/3, 69 all out, and a 147-run victory.
What this gold means for India
The victory gave India their first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games. It also extended India’s dominance in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.
India had already won the gold medal in the previous edition, with the 2022 Asian Games taking place in Hangzhou in 2023. India beat Sri Lanka in that final as well, making the 2026 victory a back-to-back Asian Games gold for the women’s cricket team.
The latest triumph also came against the same opponent, adding another chapter to the rivalry at the Asian Games.
Squad and support staff who made it happen
Harmanpreet led an India XI featuring Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaud.
Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav formed India’s bench.
The support staff included head coach Amol Muzumdar, along with Aavishkar Salvi and Munish Bali.
Sri Lanka’s XI featured Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushani Nuthyangana, Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Chamudi Praboda and Sugandika Kumari, with Jamie Siddons as head coach. Their bench comprised Rashmika Sewwandi, Nimasha Meepage, Sanjana Kavindi and Anushka Sanjeewani.
India’s women now leave the cricket competition with another Asian Games gold medal, while the 2026 Games have their first Indian gold in the medal tally. Harmanpreet’s team made sure there was little doubt about the final result from the moment India posted 216.
