Shafali Verma celebrates a historic century as India storm into Asian Games final. (Img: Pinterest)
Aichi-Nagoya: India’s women’s cricket team booked a place in the Asian Games 2026 gold medal match after delivering a complete performance against Bangladesh in the semifinal. A stunning unbeaten century by Shafali Verma and a ruthless bowling display helped India register a massive 114-run victory, setting up a blockbuster final against Sri Lanka.
The semifinal in Nisshin, Japan, became a memorable night for Indian cricket as Shafali Verma transformed a high-pressure knockout game into a personal milestone moment. The explosive opener smashed her maiden international white-ball century, guiding India to a huge total before the bowlers completely dominated Bangladesh’s chase.
Batting first after winning the toss, India started aggressively with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma attacking the Bangladesh bowling attack from the opening over.
The opening duo added 72 runs during the powerplay, putting India in a commanding position. Mandhana scored a quick 37 runs from 19 balls before becoming the leading run-scorer in women’s T20 international cricket.
The spotlight then shifted completely to Shafali Verma, who produced one of the most memorable innings of her career.
The 22-year-old batter smashed an unbeaten 100 runs from just 49 deliveries, becoming the first player to score a century in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.
Her power-packed innings included nine sixes and three boundaries. Shafali reached the landmark on the final ball of India’s innings, adding an emotional milestone to her cricket journey.
## Comeback Story Turns Into Asian Games Glory Moment
Shafali’s century carried extra significance because of the difficult phase she faced before returning to the Indian team.
Known for her fearless batting approach, Shafali had often provided India with explosive starts but struggled to convert them into big international scores. She also faced selection setbacks and returned to domestic cricket to rebuild confidence.
Her consistent performances earned her another opportunity at the international level, and the Asian Games semifinal became the perfect stage for her comeback story.
The emotional celebration after reaching the century reflected the importance of the moment for the young batter, who has been regarded as one of India’s most exciting T20 talents.
## Harmanpreet Kaur Adds Power As India Post 195
After Mandhana’s dismissal, Shafali continued her attacking approach with captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
The pair built a crucial 94-run partnership from just 55 balls, pushing India towards a massive semifinal total.
Harmanpreet played an important supporting role with 40 runs from 33 deliveries as India finished with 195 runs for four wickets in 20 overs.
The huge target created immediate pressure on Bangladesh, who needed one of their best batting performances to stay alive in the tournament.
## Indian Bowlers Destroy Bangladesh Batting Lineup
Bangladesh’s chase collapsed under the pressure of India’s disciplined bowling attack.
Nandani Sharma provided the first breakthrough early in the innings, while Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani continued to trouble the Bangladesh batters during the powerplay.
Bangladesh were reduced to 39 runs for three wickets after six overs and never managed to build a partnership strong enough to challenge India.
Dilara Akter was the only batter who showed resistance, scoring 27 runs from 23 balls. However, regular wickets ended Bangladesh’s hopes as they were bowled out for just 81 runs in 15.4 overs.
Nandani Sharma and Deepti Sharma were the stars with the ball, taking three wickets each. Deepti produced a brilliant economical spell, conceding only seven runs, while Sree Charani picked up two wickets to complete India’s dominant victory.
## Sri Lanka Await India In Gold Medal Battle
Sri Lanka reached the final after defeating Pakistan in the other semifinal.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front with an unbeaten 83-run innings from 50 balls as Sri Lanka successfully chased Pakistan’s target of 177 runs.
The India versus Sri Lanka final will be a repeat of the previous Asian Games gold medal contest, adding another chapter to the growing rivalry between the two teams.
## India Target Gold Medal Defence
India will now aim to retain their Asian Games gold medal when they face Sri Lanka on September 22.
With Shafali Verma in explosive form, experienced players like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur providing stability, and the bowling attack delivering under pressure, India will enter the final with strong confidence.
The bronze medal match will feature Bangladesh against Pakistan as the Asian Games women’s cricket competition moves towards its final stage.
