Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Shafali Verma Changes Approach After India’s Asia Cup Triumph
India won the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 by beating Sri Lanka in the final.
India scored 183 runs for five wickets.
Shafali Verma hit 68 runs from 39 balls.
Smriti Mandhana scored 59 runs.
Together, they made 129 runs without losing a wicket.
India’s bowlers then restricted Sri Lanka and won by 72 runs.
Shree Charani took four wickets, while Deepti Sharma took three.
Shafali said she now tries to stay calm in important matches and focus on watching and reacting to each ball.
She and Mandhana were especially happy because India had lost to Sri Lanka in the 2024 final.
Shafali Verma scored 68 from 39 balls in India’s 72-run final victory over Sri Lanka.
India won its eighth Women’s Asia Cup title after posting 183/5 and defending the total.
Shafali and Smriti Mandhana shared a record 129-run opening partnership in the final.
Shafali said she now keeps big games simple by watching the ball and reacting.
Shafali was Player of the Match in the semifinal and final, and Player of the Series with 236 runs and two wickets.
- Who
- India’s women’s cricket team, led in the batting by Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, defeated Sri Lanka.
- What
- India won the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final by 72 runs, earning its eighth title.
- When
- The final was recently played in 2026; the report is dated September 14.
- Where
- The report is datelined New Delhi, but it does not specify the match venue.
- Why
- India won through a strong opening partnership, a total of 183/5, and effective bowling; Shafali attributed her performance to a simpler approach in big games.
- Competition
- Women’s Asia Cup 2026
- Final result
- India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs
- India’s total
- 183/5
- Shafali Verma
- 68 runs from 39 balls
- Smriti Mandhana
- 59 runs
- Opening partnership
- 129 runs, the highest for any wicket in the Women’s T20I Asia Cup
- Shafali’s series figures
- 236 runs and two wickets
- India’s leading bowlers
- Shree Charani took four wickets and Deepti Sharma took three