India secured their second consecutive women’s cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games on Monday, delivering a dominant performance against Sri Lanka at the Korogi Athletic Park in Nagoya. India posted a record-breaking total of 216 for 3 in their 20 overs, the highest score in the women’s cricket event at the Asian Games, powered by a whirlwind 79 from opener Smriti Mandhana.
Mandhana’s innings featured seven sixes and five fours, and her aggressive stroke play sent the ball to all corners of the ground. She was well supported by Shafali Verma, who provided a rapid start before being dismissed for 48 off 29 balls. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who won the toss and opted to bat first, praised the opening partnership and the overall solid batting display.
Sri Lanka struggled in response, with their captain, Chamari Athapaththu, top-scoring with 29 runs. The Sri Lankan side was bowled out for 69 in just 15.4 overs, resulting in a 147-run defeat and a silver medal finish. The Sri Lankan innings faltered early, unable to build any meaningful partnerships under pressure.
Richa Ghosh and Bharti Fulmali contributed valuable late runs, scoring 25 off the final over bowled by Mithali Ayodhya. The Sri Lankan bowler’s over included eight wides, further adding to the mounting pressure on her side.
Mandhana reflected on the victory, describing it as a proud moment to deliver India’s first gold medal at these Games. “It feels amazing. We’ve seen other athletes win gold on TV. But it’s nice to be on the podium,” she said.
In the bronze medal match, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 31 runs. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana played a crucial innings of 45 runs off 30 balls, including three fours and three sixes, helping her team recover from 67 for 5. Her 67-run partnership with Aliya Riaz steadied Pakistan’s innings, concluding at 145 for 8. Bangladesh were restricted to 114 for 7 in response.
Following the medal ceremonies, players from India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan posed together for a group photograph, symbolizing the spirit of the multi-sport event. Harmanpreet Kaur expressed optimism about the future for Indian women’s cricket at the Asian Games. “We are not used to playing in a multi-sport event like the Asian Games. It means a lot to us, and we’re really happy that we have opened the gate and, hopefully, we’ll see many more golds,” she said.