The Asian Games women’s cricket final will be a repeat of the 2023 gold-medal clash, but India will arrive at the summit showdown with a new level of batting momentum. Shafali Verma’s breathtaking unbeaten century against Bangladesh and Chamari Athapaththu’s match-winning assault against Pakistan ensured that the defending champions and Sri Lanka will meet again for Asian Games gold.
India produced the more emphatic of the two semi-final victories, overwhelming Bangladesh by 114 runs after Shafali smashed an unbeaten 100 from just 49 balls. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, survived a testing Pakistan challenge as captain Athapaththu’s unbeaten 83 off 50 balls powered them to a successful chase of 178. The two results have set up a final with considerable recent history. India won the inaugural women’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, defeating Sri Lanka by 19 runs.
Shafali turned the semi-final into a spectacle. India’s semi-final against Bangladesh was effectively decided by one extraordinary batting display. Asked to bat first in Nisshin, India posted 195 for four, with Shafali producing her maiden white-ball international century in spectacular fashion. She reached three figures from 49 deliveries, finishing unbeaten with nine sixes and three fours. It was the kind of innings that changed the shape of a knockout match before Bangladesh had even begun its chase.
Shafali’s innings was complemented by Smriti Mandhana’s rapid 37 from 19 balls and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 40 from 33. Mandhana’s contribution carried an additional milestone as she became the leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is. India’s opening pair added 72 from 36 balls, with Shafali particularly aggressive in the early stages. She raced to 34 from her first 17 deliveries, while Mandhana gradually accelerated at the other end.
After Mandhana departed, Harmanpreet joined Shafali and the pair added 94 for the third wicket from 55 balls. The Indian captain took some time to find her rhythm but finished strongly, allowing India to cross the 190 mark. Bangladesh’s chase never gathered momentum. Nandani Sharma struck early before Kranti Gaud delivered another blow, and Sree Charani removed Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana during the powerplay.
Bangladesh were reduced to 38 for three and never managed to construct a partnership capable of threatening India’s imposing total. Nandani returned to strike twice in the 11th over, exposing the lower order, before Deepti Sharma completed the rout with two wickets. Bangladesh were eventually restricted to 81, handing India a 114-run victory.
The result continues India’s strong run in women’s cricket. The team entered the Asian Games as defending champions after winning gold in Hangzhou, while the current squad has also enjoyed a highly successful 2026, including an unbeaten campaign in the Women’s Asia Cup.
Athapaththu powers Sri Lanka into the final. If Shafali’s innings was about explosive dominance, Athapaththu was about controlled acceleration. Pakistan posted 177 for seven after being sent in, with Ayesha Zafar smashing 71 from 40 balls and Shawaal Zulfiqar contributing 54 from 50. The pair added 115 for the third wicket from 70 deliveries to give Pakistan a competitive platform. But Sri Lanka had the perfect answer in their captain.
Athapaththu began cautiously, scoring only four from her first nine balls. Her opening partner Imesha Dulani supplied the early momentum with a 27-ball 27, allowing Sri Lanka to stay within reach of the target. Then Athapaththu changed gears. The eighth over produced 20 runs as the left-hander struck Momina Riasat for six, four, six and four. A second six came with a slice of fortune when Fatima Sana took a catch at deep midwicket but stepped onto the boundary while attempting to return the ball.
Athapaththu survived and made Pakistan pay. She attacked the left-arm spin of Nashra Sandhu, collecting two fours and a six in the 10th over as Sri Lanka’s required rate began to fall. Hasini Perera then joined the assault, hitting two sixes and a four in the 13th over.
The pair added 95 from 56 balls before Hasini departed for 42 from 26 deliveries. By then, Sri Lanka needed only 47 from 36 balls. Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama completed the chase with 23 balls to spare, sending Sri Lanka into another Asian Games final. Sri Lanka’s presence in the gold-medal match is significant given the side’s recent run against India. The two teams met in the Women’s Asia Cup final earlier this month, where India won their record-extending eighth continental title. Sri Lanka also arrive in Nagoya after finishing runners-up at that tournament, with Athapaththu retained as captain for the Asian Games squad.
Two captains, two contrasting semi-final masterclasses and one familiar final. India’s route to the final was powered by sheer batting force. Shafali’s 49-ball hundred turned the Bangladesh semi-final into a one-sided contest, while the bowling attack ensured there was never an opening for a comeback. Sri Lanka had to earn their place the harder way. Pakistan’s 177 gave them a genuine chase, but Athapaththu’s ability to absorb pressure before exploding through the middle overs proved decisive.
That sets up an intriguing final. India have the defending champions’ tag and the confidence of another dominant tournament run. Sri Lanka have the memory of losing the 2023 final, while also having defeated India in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final before India reclaimed the continental title this month. The equation for the final is therefore simple, but the stakes are enormous. India are one win away from defending their Asian Games crown.
Sri Lanka are one win away from rewriting the ending of a final they have already experienced once. The gold-medal match now has everything it needs: two strong batting line-ups, two experienced captains and a rivalry that has repeatedly produced high-stakes cricket. The Asian Games final is set. India vs Sri Lanka, once again for gold.
