Dubai, September 2026 : India produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Bangladesh by 40 runs in the semi-final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday, securing their place in the final.
After Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field, India posted a competitive 149 for 6 in 20 overs, with opener Shafali Verma delivering the standout batting performance. The aggressive opener smashed 64 off 40 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes to provide India with the ideal platform.
India suffered an early setback when Smriti Mandhana was dismissed for just two runs, but Shafali took control of the innings and kept the scoreboard moving. She combined attacking strokes with calculated aggression to put Bangladesh under pressure.
Pratika Rawal added 20, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 24. Richa Ghosh contributed 21 and Deepti Sharma scored 13 as India finished strongly to reach 149.
India’s Key Performances
- Shafali Verma: 64 off 40 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes
- Harmanpreet Kaur: 24 not out
- Richa Ghosh: 21
- Pratika Rawal: 20
- Deepti Sharma: 13
Chasing 150 for victory, Bangladesh struggled to build momentum from the beginning. India's bowlers maintained sustained pressure, striking at regular intervals and preventing the Bangladesh batters from forming substantial partnerships.
Deepti Sharma emerged as India's leading bowler, claiming three important wickets and playing a crucial role in breaking Bangladesh's resistance. Nandani Sharma also impressed with two wickets as India's attack kept control of the contest throughout the innings.
Bangladesh's batters were unable to accelerate despite having the full 20 overs. Shorna Akter, who remained unbeaten on 22, was the team's highest scorer, but she lacked sufficient support from the other end.
Bangladesh eventually finished at 109 for 7 in 20 overs, falling 40 runs short of India's target.
Bangladesh Innings
- Score: 109/7 in 20 overs
- Top scorer: Shorna Akter – 22 not out
- India's best bowler: Deepti Sharma – 3 wickets
- Nandani Sharma: 2 wickets
- Result: India won by 40 runs
The victory puts India into the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, where they will await the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will meet in the second semi-final on Friday, September 11, with the winner advancing to Sunday's title clash against India.
India's performance against Bangladesh will further strengthen their status as one of the tournament favourites. Shafali's explosive half-century gave the team a strong foundation with the bat, while the bowling unit ensured Bangladesh never got close to the required run rate.
The Indian side's ability to contribute across departments was particularly significant in a knockout match, where Bangladesh needed a strong start during the chase but instead lost wickets regularly.
With the final scheduled for Sunday, India now have an opportunity to cap their campaign with the Asia Cup title. Their combination of aggressive top-order batting, experienced leadership and a disciplined bowling attack has positioned them strongly heading into the tournament's final contest.
