India’s unstoppable run to Women’s T20 Asia Cup crown

Dubai [UAE], September 14 (ANI): India’s women’s cricket team delivered a dominant performance in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026, emerging as the standout side across batting and bowling departments while lifting the title with a commanding campaign.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led India clinched their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title after thrashing Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Final on Sunday, which was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. newsbetting.cv

India’s batting unit maintained a significantly higher scoring rate than the rest of the tournament, recording a run rate of 8.35 compared to 5.12 by the other teams combined. Their batting strength was further reflected in their runs-per-wicket ratio of 26.46, more than double the combined figure of 11.95 for other teams.

The Indian batters also produced the highest number of individual half-centuries in the tournament with four, while the remaining teams collectively managed only two. India were the only side to register a century, with one batter reaching the three-figure mark. The team also dominated the six-hitting charts, smashing 32 sixes during the tournament, while all other teams combined hit 22.

India’s bowling attack was equally impressive, finishing with the best bowling average of 8.84 and an economy rate of 4.29. In comparison, the other teams collectively recorded a bowling average of 16.12 and an economy rate of 5.79.

The six-hitting gap highlighted India’s attacking approach, with the champions hitting a six every 16.62 balls. Sri Lanka followed with eight sixes at a rate of one every 64.62 balls, while Pakistan hit seven, Bangladesh four, Thailand two and Indonesia one. Hong Kong and the UAE failed to hit a six during the tournament.

However, India’s fielding remained an area of concern as they recorded the lowest catching efficiency among all participating teams. The Indian side dropped 17 catches, the most in the tournament, while Indonesia were next with seven dropped catches. India’s catching efficiency stood at 59.5 per cent, with Indonesia the only other team below the 70 per cent mark at 58.8 per cent.

Bowling spearhead Shree Charani also created history during the tournament, becoming the Indian women’s bowler with the most T20 International wickets in a calendar year. Charani has taken 39 wickets in 2026, surpassing Poonam Yadav’s previous record of 35 wickets in 2018. Deepti Sharma follows with 30 wickets in both 2024 and 2026.

Charani was also among the record performers in Women’s T20 Asia Cup finals, registering figures of 4/20 against Sri Lanka in Dubai. Her spell placed her among the few bowlers to take a four-wicket haul in a final, joining Poonam Yadav (4/9 vs Bangladesh, 2018) and Sana Mir (4/13 vs India, 2012).

India’s all-round dominance, backed by explosive batting, disciplined bowling and record-breaking individual performances, underlined their status as the strongest team in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026.

India Women produced a commanding all-round performance to clinch the eighth Women’s Asia Cup title, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final in Dubai.

After Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma powered India to 183/5 with a record 129-run opening stand, Sree Charani led the attack with an impressive 4/20 from four overs, while Deepti Sharma chipped in with 3/19 from her four-over spell.

Chasing 184 in the high-pressure final, Sri Lanka endured an early setback in the opening over. Imesha Dulani began with a boundary, but Indian pacer Kranti Gaud responded strongly, bowling her on the fourth delivery to put the chasing side on the back foot.

After the 129-run opening stand between Smriti and Shafali, Indian batting fell flat, with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (14 in 14 balls) and Richa Ghosh (17 in 13 balls) failing to score big. A cameo from Bharti Fulmali (15* in five balls, with a four and a six) took India to 183/5 in 20 overs.

Mithali Ayodhya (1/33 in four overs) and Chamari Athapaththu (1/34 in four overs) were top bowlers for Sri Lanka. (ANI)

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Manu Bhaker strives to clinch an individual medal at the Asian Games, building on her previous fifth and sixth-place finishes. Her coach emphasises her ability to perform consistently at a high level, praising her strong technical skills and determined mindset. Renowned for their rigorous training, Indian shooters like Bhaker showcase an unwavering commitment to self-improvement and achieving excellence in their sport.

Four years is a long time to wait for redemption. For triple jumper Praveen Chithravel, it was four years of carrying the memory of missing a Commonwealth Games podium in Birmingham by just three centimetres. Chithravel found silver redemption at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, ending the wait.

“I had been waiting for this moment for four years. Finally, I won a silver at the Commonwealth Games. Performance-wise, I’m not happy, but I’m happy that I got the medal,” Chithravel told Revsportz.

That distinction perhaps explains where Chithravel is now. The medal has broken the mental deadlock, but it has not satisfied him.

However, for the national record holder, the bigger takeaway was that he finally converted a major opportunity into a medal. Now, fully fit, Chitravel looks ahead for Continental glory.

“The mission is complete,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I am extremely happy. For me, it was just one stage, now there are bigger goals and my eyes are now on the Asian Games gold medal.”

It was obvious for Chitravel, who’s capable of something bigger. Before the Hangzhou Asian Games, he leapt over 17m in three competitions including a national record breaking 17.37m in Cuba, but he wasn’t able to translate that success at the Asian Games 2023.

Now comes another Asian Games, and this time Chithravel once again arrives as one of India’s strongest gold medal hopes in athletics.

His 17.37m national record remains proof of the distance he can produce. However, China’s Su Wen has raised the bar this season with a 17.40m personal best, which makes him the biggest threat to Chithravel at the continental battle.

Interestingly, Chithravel who crossed 17m only once this season, insists he is still not satisfied.

“My Asian Games preparation is going well. Actually, this season I did not want to push myself too much,” he said, explaining that the season was planned around peaking at the bigger competitions.

“My main plan was to gradually build towards big competitions, so I didn’t push too hard in every competition. I was trying to maintain around 17 metres. A lot happened during training this season, but I still managed to win the medal. Now I want to focus on next season.

“Physically, I’m always strong,” he said. “Mentally, I am very good. But my body, everything is not good. There are a lot of issues in my health. But hopefully, I will jump to the Asian Games.”

Chitravel has a very unique way to set his goals and keep reminding himself. He has a wallpaper set on his phone. Just that his phone wallpaper has already changed from the Commonwealth Games to the Asian Games gold medal.

“We use our phones every day, so I want to keep that goal in front of me every day,” the 25 year-old said.

For now, though, the focus is Nagoya for him. He already has experience competing in Japan and is comfortable with the conditions as Indian conditions also offer the same kind of humid challenges that the Indian jumper is aware of.

“Japan is good for me. I love Japan. I have already trained there in the past. Because there is a good track, I can jump far,” he concluded.

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