NAGoya, Japan — India Women's cricket team have successfully defended their Asian Games title, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women's T20 final at Korogi Sports Park to win the gold medal for the second consecutive Asian Games.
The victory completes another landmark chapter for Indian women's cricket. After winning gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, India returned to the continental stage as defending champions and once again finished at the top of the podium.
India's triumph was built on a powerful batting display and a relentless bowling performance. Smriti Mandhana smashed 79 from 45 balls, Richa Ghosh finished unbeaten on 49 from 22, and India posted 216/3, the highest women's cricket total of the Asian Games.
Sri Lanka's chase never gained momentum. India's bowlers struck at regular intervals and eventually dismissed Sri Lanka for just 69, completing a 147-run victory — India's biggest win by runs in women's T20I cricket.
The final also produced another historic milestone for Mandhana, who became the first woman cricketer to reach 11,000 international runs.
Across the tournament, Shafali Verma finished as the leading run-scorer with 188 runs, while Sree Charani led India's bowling effort with eight wickets.
For India, it was more than a successful title defence.
It was another golden statement on the Asian Games stage.
India entered the women's cricket competition carrying the expectations of defending their Hangzhou crown.
The knockout journey began against hosts Japan.
India's bowlers immediately took control, restricting Japan to 57, before Shafali Verma's explosive unbeaten 40 guided India home in less than five overs.
Sree Charani claimed four wickets in the match, setting the tone for India's bowling campaign.
The semi-final against Bangladesh produced another record.
India posted 195/4, powered by Shafali Verma's magnificent maiden international T20 century. She reached three figures from just 49 balls, producing one of the standout innings of the tournament.
Bangladesh were then dismissed for 81, with Nandani Sharma and Deepti Sharma taking three wickets each.
India were through to another Asian Games final.
Waiting for them were Sri Lanka.
The final began with India winning the toss and choosing to bat.
Mandhana responded with an innings worthy of the occasion.
The India opener struck 79 from 45 balls, combining timing and power to put Sri Lanka under pressure from the opening overs.
Her innings included five fours and seven sixes, but its significance went beyond the scoreboard.
During the final, Mandhana crossed the 11,000-run mark in international cricket, becoming the first woman to reach the landmark.
Shafali Verma continued her excellent tournament, while Richa Ghosh produced a sensational finish.
Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 49 from only 22 balls, pushing India's total to 216/3.
Sri Lanka were facing an enormous target.
India's bowlers then completed the job.
Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships against India's disciplined attack.
Wickets continued to fall as India's bowlers kept the pressure on, and Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 69.
The scoreboard told the entire story:
India — 216/3
Sri Lanka — 69 all out
India won by 147 runs.
The margin made it India's biggest victory by runs in women's T20I cricket and secured another Asian Games gold medal for the Women in Blue.
Shafali Verma was one of the biggest stars of India's campaign.
The aggressive opener finished the tournament with 188 runs, making her the leading run-scorer in the women's cricket competition.
Her tournament included an unbeaten 40 against Japan and a brilliant century against Bangladesh in the semi-final.
Her ability to attack from the opening over repeatedly gave India the platform to dominate their opponents.
While India's batters produced the headlines, Sree Charani emerged as a major force with the ball.
The left-arm spinner finished the tournament with eight wickets, making her India's leading wicket-taker.
Her four-wicket performance against Japan played a crucial role in India's opening knockout victory, and she continued to provide India with control and breakthroughs throughout the campaign.
Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 49 was one of the defining performances of the final.
Coming in during the closing stages, the wicketkeeper-batter needed only 22 deliveries to reach 49 not out.
Her aggressive finish pushed India beyond the 200-run mark and gave the bowlers a huge target to defend.
It was another example of India's batting depth coming to the forefront when it mattered most.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led India through a campaign in which different players stepped forward at crucial moments.
Shafali dominated with the bat.
Mandhana produced a historic final.
Ghosh provided the explosive finish.
Charani led the bowling attack.
Together, they delivered India's second successive Asian Games cricket gold.
India's women's cricket team have once again finished an Asian Games campaign on top of the podium.
The 2026 triumph adds another chapter to the story that began with India's first women's cricket gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
This time, there was no question about the destination of the medal.
India came as defending champions.
India leave as back-to-back champions.
And in Nagoya, the gold remains with the Women in Blue.
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