Tournament favourites India Women started their journey in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 in a strong way with a 94-run win against Thailand Women on Sunday night.
After Thailand Women chose to field first at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India Women scored 159/9 in 20 overs. In reply, Thailand Women were all out for only 65 runs in 16.1 overs, as India Women completely dominated in the second innings.
Shafali Verma smashed 64 runs
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma produced a quick-fire start of a 38-run partnership for the opening wicket in three overs, as Mandhana was run out after scoring 19 off 10 balls. Verma then had a strong 53-run partnership with WT20I debutant Pratika Rawal, where Pratika scored 22 off 18 balls.
Meanwhile, with the help of eight fours and three sixes, Verma smashed 64 runs off 36 balls. However, all the other Indian batters struggled, as only Bharti Fulmali (13) and the lower-order batter Kranti Gaud (15*) managed to reach double-digit scores.
India Women from 108/2 to 137/9
From 108/2 in the 12th over, India Women were suddenly down to 137/9 in the 18th over before Shree Charani and Kranti added a valuable 22-run partnership for the unbroken 10th wicket. Among the Thailand bowlers, Suleeporn Laomi (3/26) got three wickets, while Sunida Chaturongrattana (2/31) picked up two wickets.
Only one double-digit score in Thailand's innings
In reply, only the no.3 wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai managed to reach the double-digit scores, as she scored 41 runs off 48 balls with five fours. Among the Indian bowlers, Deepti got three wickets in just seven balls without conceding any runs (1.1-1-0-3), while Nandani Sharma also took three wickets (3/18). Also, Shree Charani (2/10) and Kranti Gaud (1/26) shared three wickets between them.
Smriti Mandhana: 2nd leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket
Smriti Mandhana has scored 10,756 runs in women’s international cricket. She is now the second-most run-scorer in women’s international cricket, surpassing New Zealand legend Suzie Bates, who scored 10,740 women’s international runs. Legendary Indian cricketer Mithali Rai is leading this table with 10,868 women’s international runs.
Deepti Sharma: 2 new all-time records
Picking up three wickets in the match (1.1-1-0-3), Deepti Sharma now holds the record for most wickets in Women’s T20I history. While she has taken 171 WT20I wickets, she surpassed Thailand's star Thipatcha Putthawong’s 170 WT20I wickets record. Thipatcha Putthawong also participated in the match, taking one wicket.
With her three wickets, Deepti Sharma also set a new record for most wickets in the history of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup with 29 wickets, as she surpassed Pakistan star Nida Dar’s 28-wicket record in the tournament.
India Women: 3rd largest win in Women’s T20 Asia Cup
India Women won by 94 runs. It was India Women’s third-largest in the history of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup. Previously, they recorded a 142-run victory and a 104-run win against Malaysia Women (2018) and UAE Women (2022), respectively.
