Nisshin, Japan: India produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s cricket gold-medal match at the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday, securing their second consecutive Asian Games gold medal in women’s cricket.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India first posted a massive 216/3 in 20 overs, powered by an attacking half-century from Smriti Mandhana, a quickfire contribution from Shafali Verma, and a late assault from wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh.
Sri Lanka never managed to build momentum in the chase and were bowled out for just 69 in 15.4 overs, handing India a comprehensive 147-run victory and their first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games.
The result also saw India successfully defend the women’s cricket title they won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Mandhana Leads India’s Batting Charge
After Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat, India made their intentions clear from the opening over.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers immediately, putting the defending champions in control during the powerplay.
Mandhana was particularly aggressive, finding boundaries regularly and putting pressure on the Sri Lankan attack. She eventually scored 79 runs from just 45 balls, including five fours and seven sixes.
Her innings was also significant statistically. During the knock, Mandhana became the first woman cricketer to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket, adding another landmark to an already impressive career.
Shafali provided strong support at the other end, scoring 48 from 29 deliveries. The opening pair put together a partnership of 99 runs before Shafali was dismissed just two runs short of her half-century.
India’s strong start gave the middle order the platform it needed.
Richa Ghosh Provides the Final Push
With India already in a commanding position, Richa Ghosh took charge during the final stages of the innings.
The wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 49 from only 22 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes.
Her late hitting pushed India beyond the 200-run mark and helped the team finish on 216/3, the highest-ever women’s total in Asian Games cricket, according to reports from the final.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also contributed 19 runs from 17 balls before being dismissed.
India’s final total of 216 gave Sri Lanka a huge target and put enormous pressure on their batting lineup from the beginning of the chase.
Sri Lanka Collapse Under India’s Spin Attack
Sri Lanka’s chase never really got going.
India’s bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals, preventing the Sri Lankan batters from establishing any meaningful partnership.
Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka’s captain and one of their most experienced batters, top-scored with only 29 runs from 21 balls.
Once Athapaththu was dismissed by Deepti Sharma, Sri Lanka’s hopes of producing a competitive chase faded rapidly.
Deepti finished with three wickets, while Shafali Verma, Sree Charani and Shreyanka Patil picked up two wickets each.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs, leaving India with a massive 147-run victory.
India Retain Asian Games Gold
The victory is particularly significant because India have now won the women’s cricket gold medal at two consecutive Asian Games.
India won the title in Hangzhou in 2023 and entered the 2026 competition as the defending champions.
The final also had a familiar feel, with India and Sri Lanka meeting in the gold-medal match after both sides progressed through the knockout stage.
India had earlier defeated Bangladesh by 114 runs in the semi-final, while Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets to reach the final.
India’s performance in the final, however, was on another level.
A Complete Team Performance
Although Mandhana’s 79 and Richa Ghosh’s unbeaten 49 grabbed the headlines, India’s victory was built around a complete team performance.
The batters produced a huge total, while the bowlers maintained pressure throughout Sri Lanka’s innings.
Shafali Verma contributed with both bat and ball, while Deepti Sharma once again proved important with her experience and ability to break partnerships.
The Indian spin attack proved especially difficult for Sri Lanka to handle as wickets continued to fall throughout the chase.
For Sri Lanka, Athapaththu’s 29 was the only notable contribution as their batting lineup failed to cope with India’s bowling pressure.
India’s First Gold Medal of the 2026 Asian Games
The women’s cricket team’s victory also gave India their first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games.
The Indian contingent had already collected silver and bronze medals in the opening days of the Games, but the cricket team’s victory finally put a gold medal on India’s tally.
The women’s team now leaves the competition with another Asian Games title and an impressive final performance that underlined their dominance in the tournament.
For Harmanpreet Kaur and her team, it was another major international title.
For Smriti Mandhana, it was a record-breaking individual performance.
And for Indian cricket, it was another gold medal to add to its growing success on the Asian Games stage.
India vs Sri Lanka — Gold Medal Match
India: 216/3 in 20 overs
Sri Lanka: 69 all out in 15.4 overs
Result: India won by 147 runs
Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan
Top scorer: Smriti Mandhana – 79 (45)
India’s other key contribution: Richa Ghosh – 49* (22)
Sri Lanka top scorer: Chamari Athapaththu – 29 (21)
Best India bowler: Deepti Sharma – 3 wickets
Medal: India – Gold | Sri Lanka – Silver
Major achievement: India retained the Asian Games women’s cricket gold medal.
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