Smriti Mandhana Stars as India Dominates Sri Lanka to Claim Second Consecutive Asian Games Cricket Gold

Gold medallists India pose on the podium after winning the women's cricket final during the 2026 Asian Games at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan.

Smriti Mandhana’s whirlwind innings of 79 runs helped India crush Sri Lanka by 147 runs to win a second consecutive women’s cricket gold at the Asian Games. India smashed 216-3 off their 20 overs, setting the highest women’s total in Asian Games history, highlighted by 18 fours and 13 sixes in the final on Tuesday. Richa Ghosh and Bharti Fulmali plundered 25 off the final over from the hapless Mithali Ayodhya, who compounded her troubles by conceding eight wides.

Sri Lanka never mounted a serious challenge. Captain Chamari Athapaththu’s 29 was their only notable contribution as they were skittled for just 69 runs in 15.4 overs, leaving them to settle for the silver medal.

Opening batter Smriti Mandhana hit seven sixes and five fours in a blistering 45-ball knock that sent the ball all over the Korogi Athletic Park ground in Nagoya.

After India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat, Shafali Verma—who scored an unbeaten century in the semifinal—joined Smriti Mandhana in a commanding opening partnership. The pair rapidly advanced to 99 in the 10th innings before Verma played a reckless reverse sweep, top-edging a catch to Kawya Kavindi at point to depart for 48 off 29 balls.

Smriti Mandhana, celebrated as the greatest run-scorer in women’s T20 cricket history, reached her fifty earlier in that same over and continued playing aggressively, dispatching loose deliveries to the boundary. Harmanpreet Kaur then partnered with her, pushing the total to 141 before the captain was caught at long-off for 19. Looking to accelerate further in the closing stages, Smriti Mandhana skied an attempted six and was dismissed in the 17th over with the score at 163.

Richa Ghosh subsequently hammered 49 off 22 balls, featuring three sixes and six fours, to propel India past the 200-run milestone in the final over.

Earlier in the event, late-game heroics by Pakistan captain Fatima Sana secured a 31-run victory against Bangladesh in the bronze medal match. Fatima Sana entered the crease with her team struggling at 67-5 in the 12th over, but she fiercely countered with 45 runs off 30 balls, including three fours and three sixes. She was eventually dismissed on the final delivery of the 20 overs, having lifted Pakistan to a competitive 145-8. A crucial 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket alongside Aliya Riaz (25) served as the turning point, restricting Bangladesh to 114-7 in response.