The Indian women’s team has regained the title of Asia Cup winners after beating the defending champions Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday (Sep 13) in Dubai by 72 runs. Fifties from attacking Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma and a brilliant four-wicket haul from Shree Charani ensured that India crossed the finish line this time. The Indian women’s team is now a record eight-time Asia Cup champions (four in the T20 format and four in the ODIs). After scoring 183 for five in the first innings, India reduced Sri Lanka to 111 in reply.&nbsp;India won the toss and elected to bat first in the all-important final. Star openers Shafali and Smriti began with the onslaught and didn’t look like stopping. After dominating the Powerplay, the two paced their innings even after that, completing respective fifties. Shafali was the aggressor of the two, hitting boundaries for fun. Showing maturity and mettle, as her captain suggested, Shafali smashed 68 off 39 balls before losing her wicket. The two added 129 runs for the first wicket.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-afghanistan-1st-t20i-abhishek-sharma-arshdeep-singh-delhi-win-1789321588972">Abhishek, Kishan, Arshdeep star as India crush Afghanistan in 1st T20I</a>&nbsp;"I think Shafali had a great tournament and it's good to see somebody like Shefali who is taking the responsibility and doing the job with bat and ball," Harmanpreet said after the match. "I can't ask anything else from her. It's all about playing good cricket and I am very happy about that. We set some really high standards for us and we had to match them every day."&nbsp;Mandhana departed in the next over before Harmanpreet, Richa and Deepti too fell quickly. A late blitz from Gunalan Kamalini ensured India posted a challenging total (183/5).<h2>India crowned champions</h2>India never let Sri Lanka settle in the run chase, and Kranti Gaud’s first-over dismissal set the tone for India. Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne added a valiant 58-run stand for the second wicket, only for Deepti Sharma to use her experience and get rid of the Sri Lankan captain stumped on 36.&nbsp;Her dismissal triggered a batting collapse, with left-arm spinner and India’s most successful bowler this year, Shree Charani tore through the middle and the lower order with her four wickets. Deepti too returned with three wickets as India wrapped up Sri Lanka for 111 to seal a famous win in Dubai.&nbsp;The award-ceremony, however, caught eyeballs for all wrong reasons, as the Indian Team refused to accept the trophy from the ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also happened to be the PCB chairman and an interior minister in Pakistan government. Only Sri Lankan team accepted their medals and the trophy was not presented to the winning team.

Shree Charani's 4/20 and half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma powered India to a 72-run win over Sri Lanka to capture the Women's Asia Cup 2026 title

The Indian women’s team has regained the title of Asia Cup winners after beating the defending champions Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday (Sep 13) in Dubai by 72 runs. Fifties from attacking Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma and a brilliant four-wicket haul from Shree Charani ensured that India crossed the finish line this time. The Indian women’s team is now a record eight-time Asia Cup champions (four in the T20 format and four in the ODIs). After scoring 183 for five in the first innings, India reduced Sri Lanka to 111 in reply. India won the toss and elected to bat first in the all-important final. Star openers Shafali and Smriti began with the onslaught and didn’t look like stopping. After dominating the Powerplay, the two paced their innings even after that, completing respective fifties. Shafali was the aggressor of the two, hitting boundaries for fun. Showing maturity and mettle, as her captain suggested, Shafali smashed 68 off 39 balls before losing her wicket. The two added 129 runs for the first wicket. Also read| Abhishek, Kishan, Arshdeep star as India crush Afghanistan in 1st T20I "I think Shafali had a great tournament and it's good to see somebody like Shefali who is taking the responsibility and doing the job with bat and ball," Harmanpreet said after the match. "I can't ask anything else from her. It's all about playing good cricket and I am very happy about that. We set some really high standards for us and we had to match them every day." Mandhana departed in the next over before Harmanpreet, Richa and Deepti too fell quickly. A late blitz from Gunalan Kamalini ensured India posted a challenging total (183/5). India crowned champions India never let Sri Lanka settle in the run chase, and Kranti Gaud’s first-over dismissal set the tone for India. Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne added a valiant 58-run stand for the second wicket, only for Deepti Sharma to use her experience and get rid of the Sri Lankan captain stumped on 36. Her dismissal triggered a batting collapse, with left-arm spinner and India’s most successful bowler this year, Shree Charani tore through the middle and the lower order with her four wickets. Deepti too returned with three wickets as India wrapped up Sri Lanka for 111 to seal a famous win in Dubai. The award-ceremony, however, caught eyeballs for all wrong reasons, as the Indian Team refused to accept the trophy from the ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also happened to be the PCB chairman and an interior minister in Pakistan government. Only Sri Lankan team accepted their medals and the trophy was not presented to the winning team.

Shree Charani's 4/20 and half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma powered India to a 72-run win over Sri Lanka to capture the Women's Asia Cup 2026 title

Shree Charani stars with 4/20 as India beat Sri Lanka to win Women’s Asia Cup 2026

The Asia Cup trophy controversy could be back as early as next Sunday (Sep 13), as PCB chairman and ACC president Mohsin Naqvi will be in attendance for the women’s final in Dubai, with the Indian team favourite to enter the title clash. &nbsp;During the 2025 edition in Dubai, after India beat Pakistan in the final, Naqvi walked away with the Asia Cup trophy. He denied handing it over to the winning captain, Suryakumar Yadav, against the backdrop of Indian players refusing to shake hands with the Men in Green. With the BCCI maintaining the no-handshake stance with the Pakistani players, as also carried out by Harmanpreet Kaur’s women’s team in their group stage face-off, Naqvi could find himself in a similar position should India reach the summit clash and win it.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wahab-riaz-pakistan-best-team-womens-asia-cup-55-all-out-1788684197776">All out for 55 vs India, coach Wahab Riaz bizarrely claims Pakistan as ‘Best Team in Asia Cup’</a> &nbsp;Although Naqvi’s decision to walk away with the Asia Cup trophy last year created quite a stir, it remains to be seen what happens on the podium should the Indian women’s team win the final. Not only that, but whether to accept the trophy from Naqvi will ultimately rest with Harmanpreet Kaur and the team management. &nbsp;The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), however, has remained silent on what will happen if a similar situation unfolds again. &nbsp;The Indian women’s team is head and shoulders above the rest, having already qualified for the final without losing a game. After crushing Thailand and Hong Kong in one-sided affairs in their first two matches, India reduced Pakistan to their lowest T20I total (55) in the marquee face-off in Dubai on Saturday (Sep 5). &nbsp;Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan were 27 for no loss at one stage, and strangely were all out for 55, losing all 10 wickets for 28 runs. The spin quartet of N Shree Charani (3 for 7), Prema Rawat (3 for 9), Deepti Sharma (2 for 5) and Shafali (1 for 10) triggered Pakistan’s collapse, as they set India a modest target of 56. &nbsp;Although India expectedly crossed the winning line, they lost three wickets on their way, with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana accounting for three dismissals. Her send-off to Indian opener Shafali Verma, however, led her into trouble as the <a href="Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana penalised for Shafali Verma send-off">ICC penalised her by deducting 10 per cent of her match fee</a> and handing her a demerit point, her second in 24 months. &nbsp;Should Pakistan beat Hong Kong in their final group game in Dubai on Monday, they will qualify for the semifinals. India and Pakistan could meet again in the final this year if they win their respective last four matches.&nbsp;

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to attend the Women’s Asia Cup final in Dubai, raising questions over the trophy presentation if favourites India reach and win the summit clash.

The Asia Cup trophy controversy could be back as early as next Sunday (Sep 13), as PCB chairman and ACC president Mohsin Naqvi will be in attendance for the women’s final in Dubai, with the Indian team favourite to enter the title clash. During the 2025 edition in Dubai, after India beat Pakistan in the final, Naqvi walked away with the Asia Cup trophy. He denied handing it over to the winning captain, Suryakumar Yadav, against the backdrop of Indian players refusing to shake hands with the Men in Green. With the BCCI maintaining the no-handshake stance with the Pakistani players, as also carried out by Harmanpreet Kaur’s women’s team in their group stage face-off, Naqvi could find himself in a similar position should India reach the summit clash and win it. Also read| All out for 55 vs India, coach Wahab Riaz bizarrely claims Pakistan as ‘Best Team in Asia Cup’ Although Naqvi’s decision to walk away with the Asia Cup trophy last year created quite a stir, it remains to be seen what happens on the podium should the Indian women’s team win the final. Not only that, but whether to accept the trophy from Naqvi will ultimately rest with Harmanpreet Kaur and the team management. The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), however, has remained silent on what will happen if a similar situation unfolds again. The Indian women’s team is head and shoulders above the rest, having already qualified for the final without losing a game. After crushing Thailand and Hong Kong in one-sided affairs in their first two matches, India reduced Pakistan to their lowest T20I total (55) in the marquee face-off in Dubai on Saturday (Sep 5). Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan were 27 for no loss at one stage, and strangely were all out for 55, losing all 10 wickets for 28 runs. The spin quartet of N Shree Charani (3 for 7), Prema Rawat (3 for 9), Deepti Sharma (2 for 5) and Shafali (1 for 10) triggered Pakistan’s collapse, as they set India a modest target of 56. Although India expectedly crossed the winning line, they lost three wickets on their way, with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana accounting for three dismissals. Her send-off to Indian opener Shafali Verma, however, led her into trouble as the ICC penalised her by deducting 10 per cent of her match fee and handing her a demerit point, her second in 24 months. Should Pakistan beat Hong Kong in their final group game in Dubai on Monday, they will qualify for the semifinals. India and Pakistan could meet again in the final this year if they win their respective last four matches.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to attend the Women’s Asia Cup final in Dubai, raising questions over the trophy presentation if favourites India reach and win the summit clash.

ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi set to attend Women's Asia Cup Final as India favourites for title

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Shree Charani stars with 4/20 as India beat Sri Lanka to win Women’s Asia Cup 2026

Mohsin Naqvi set to attend Women's Asia Cup Final as India favourites for title