Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh unleash explosive shots during India’s gold medal clash against Sri Lanka. (Img: Pinterest)
Nisshin: India Women delivered a breathtaking batting masterclass in the Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket final against Sri Lanka, posting a massive 216/3 in 20 overs at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.
The high-pressure gold medal clash witnessed a stunning display of power hitting as Smriti Mandhana smashed 79 runs from just 45 balls, while Richa Ghosh provided a sensational finish with an unbeaten 49 off 22 deliveries.
India’s record total has created history, becoming the highest team score in women’s cricket at the Asian Games. The dominant batting performance has placed the Women in Blue in a commanding position as they look to retain their gold medal after winning the title at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
After winning the toss, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat first in the crucial final against Sri Lanka. The opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a dream start, building a powerful 99-run partnership that put immediate pressure on the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
Mandhana once again proved her big-match ability with an explosive innings. The left-handed batter scored 79 runs off 45 balls, including five fours and seven sixes, attacking the bowlers throughout her stay at the crease. Shafali Verma played a crucial supporting role by scoring 48 runs, giving India the perfect platform for a huge final total.
After the dismissal of Shafali Verma, India continued their aggressive approach. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 19 runs from 17 balls before departing in the 15th over. The responsibility then shifted to wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who delivered a stunning late-innings assault.
Richa smashed an unbeaten 49 runs from only 22 balls, with six boundaries and three sixes. Her fearless batting in the death overs helped India cross the 200-run mark and put Sri Lanka under immense pressure. The final over turned into a run-fest as India collected 25 runs, with Richa hitting crucial maximums and boundaries to complete a historic innings.
India finished their innings at 216/3 after 20 overs, setting Sri Lanka a challenging target of 217 runs to win the Asian Games women’s cricket gold medal.
The scoreline reflected India’s batting dominance in the final, with the top order and finishers combining perfectly to produce one of the most memorable performances of the tournament. Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting approach, especially during the final stages of the innings.
India entered the final with a strong record against Sri Lanka in women’s T20 cricket. The two teams have faced each other 32 times, with India winning 26 matches. Sri Lanka have secured five victories, while one match ended without a result. However, the Asian Games final remained a fresh challenge, with both teams fighting for the prestigious gold medal.
India’s playing XI included Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaud.
Sri Lanka featured Imesha Dulani, captain Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, wicketkeeper Kaushani Nuthyangana, Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Chamudi Praboda and Sugandika Kumari.
The Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket final is being broadcast on Sony Sports Network channels. Fans can watch the live streaming of the match on the Sony LIV app and website.
India entered the final with the mission of defending the women’s cricket gold medal won at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. With a record-breaking batting performance, India have created a strong foundation in the title clash. The final result will now depend on Sri Lanka’s chase and India’s bowling response under pressure.
The match has already become one of the biggest highlights of women’s cricket at the Asian Games, with fans closely following every moment of the gold medal battle.
