Asian Games 2026 India Women Secure Second Straight Cricket Gold

India added the first gold medal to its Asian Games 2026 campaign after the women’s cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the T20 final on September 22. The result saw India successfully defend the women’s cricket title it won at the Hangzhou edition and maintain its gold-medal run in the competition.

The final in Nisshin, Japan, was decided well before the end of Sri Lanka’s chase. India first produced a total of 216/3 and then dismissed Sri Lanka for 69 in 15.4 overs.

Mandhana Sets the Platform for India

India’s innings was built around a productive opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.

Mandhana made 79 from 45 deliveries, hitting five fours and seven sixes during her stay at the crease. Verma added 48 runs from 29 balls as the pair gave India a strong start in the gold-medal contest. Their partnership helped India establish the foundation for a total above 200.

Richa Ghosh then took charge during the closing overs. The wicketkeeper-batter finished the innings without being dismissed, scoring 49 from 22 balls. Her late contribution helped India finish on 216/3 from its allotted 20 overs.

India’s score was reported as the highest total in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.

Final Match Numbers

Category	India	Sri Lanka
Total	216/3	69 all out
Overs	20	15.4
Leading batter	Mandhana 79	Athapaththu 29
Other major contribution	Ghosh 49*	—
Result	Gold	Silver
Margin	147 runs	—

India’s Bowling Attack Ends the Chase Quickly

Sri Lanka had 217 runs to get but could not establish a sustained partnership during the reply.

Indian bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings, with wickets falling regularly. Deepti Sharma was India’s leading wicket-taker, returning figures of 3/6. Shafali Verma, Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil each added two wickets to the bowling effort.

Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu was the top scorer for her side with 29 runs. However, Sri Lanka were eventually dismissed for 69 in 15.4 overs, leaving India with a 147-run victory.

The result also gave India one of its largest victories in women’s T20 international cricket, according to reports following the match.

A Milestone Night for Smriti Mandhana

The final was significant for Mandhana beyond her contribution to India’s total.

During her innings, the Indian opener crossed 11,000 international runs. She became the first woman cricketer to reach that career milestone.

Mandhana’s 79 therefore combined an important individual achievement with a match-winning contribution in the gold-medal final.

Her performance also helped her finish the tournament as India’s leading run-scorer, according to India Today, after she had scored 37 in the semifinal against Bangladesh.

India Add Another Asian Games Gold

The Asian Games 2026 victory continues India’s record in women’s cricket at the continental event.

India previously won the women’s cricket gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, which were officially the 2022 edition but were held in 2023 following postponement. Sri Lanka were also India’s opponents in that earlier final.

By beating Sri Lanka again in the 2026 final, India retained the women’s cricket gold medal for a second consecutive Asian Games edition.

Pakistan won the bronze medal after defeating Bangladesh in the third-place match.

India’s First Gold Medal of the Games

The women’s cricket title was particularly significant for India’s overall campaign because it was the country’s first gold medal at the Asian Games 2026.

Reports from September 22 placed India’s medal count at seven at that stage, consisting of one gold, four silver and two bronze medals. Since the Asian Games were still in progress, that figure represented the tally at that point rather than the final medal count.

The cricket team’s result therefore opened India’s gold-medal account while also giving the country another Asian Games title in a team sport.

Modi Congratulates the Gold Medal Winners

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated India’s women’s cricket team after the final.

In his message, Modi described the victory as a “splendid triumph for Indian cricket” and referred to the team’s confidence, skills and teamwork. He also highlighted the fact that the result delivered India’s first gold medal of the Games.

The Prime Minister’s Office separately reported Modi’s congratulations to Suchika Tariyal after she won a bronze medal in mixed martial arts, which marked India’s first Asian Games medal in that discipline.

Why the Final Was Significant

India’s victory came through contributions from several players rather than a single innings or spell.

Mandhana and Verma gave the side its early batting platform, Ghosh supplied a rapid finish, and the bowlers then prevented Sri Lanka from building a competitive chase. Mandhana’s 11,000-run milestone added an individual landmark to the team’s gold-medal success.

The final also repeated the gold-medal pairing from the previous Asian Games, with India once again overcoming Sri Lanka to claim the women’s cricket title.

FAQs

Who won women’s cricket gold at the Asian Games 2026?

India won the women’s cricket gold medal after defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the T20 final.

What was India’s score in the final?

India finished its innings at 216/3 after 20 overs.

How many runs did Smriti Mandhana score?

Mandhana made 79 runs from 45 balls, including five fours and seven sixes.

What milestone did Smriti Mandhana reach?

Mandhana became the first woman cricketer to score 11,000 international runs during the final.

How many consecutive Asian Games cricket gold medals has India won?

India has now won women’s cricket gold at two consecutive Asian Games editions, following its victory at Hangzhou and its 2026 win over Sri Lanka.

Conclusion

The Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket final ended with India securing another gold medal after a 147-run win over Sri Lanka. A total of 216/3 gave India a strong platform, while the bowling attack restricted Sri Lanka to 69.

Mandhana’s 79 and Ghosh’s unbeaten 49 were central to India’s batting effort, while Deepti Sharma and the other Indian bowlers completed the defence. The victory retained India’s women’s cricket title and gave Mandhana an additional landmark as she became the first woman to reach 11,000 international runs.