Women's Asia Cup 2026: Shafali-Deepti-Nandani power India to crushing 94-run win over Thailand

India kicked off their Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 campaign with a bang, storming to an emphatic 94-run win over Thailand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on August 30.

India Women crush Thailand Women in Asia Cup 2026 Opener

Explosive batting from Shafali Verma alongside bowling artistry from Deepti Sharma (3/0) and Nandani Sharma (3/18) paved the way for a clinical win for India.

Shafali Blitzkrieg steer India to 159/9

After Thailand captain Thipatcha Putthawong won the toss and sent India into bat, opener Shafali Verma set the stage ablaze from the outset. Unleashing an aggressive assault, Shafali smashed a blistering 64 off just 36 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries and three towering sixes.

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Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana gave India a flying start with a crisp 19 off 10 balls before being run out. Debutant Pratika Rawal, making her international debut in place of the absent Jemimah Rodrigues, produced a cameo of 22 off 18 balls.

Despite mid-innings hiccups—which saw skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (5) and Richa Ghosh (0) fall cheaply as Thailand's spinner Suleeporn Laomi picked up 3 for 26— cameos from Kranti Gaud (15) and Bharti Fulmali (13) pushed India to a formidable total of 159/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Sunida Chaturongrattana also chipped in nicely for Thailand with figures of 2 for 31.

Spin web suffocates Thailand to 65 all Out

Chasing 160 for a miracle upset, Thailand’s batting lineup crumpled under relentless pressure from India's disciplined bowling attack. Thailand wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai offered resistance with a fighting 41 off 48 balls, but found virtually zero support from the opposite end as wickets tumbled in heaps.

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India's new-ball pair of Kranti Gaud (1/26) and Shree Charani (2/10) broke through early, reducing Thailand to 39/3 within the powerplay. Off-spinner Nandani Sharma kept the pressure firm in the middle overs, finishing with splendid figures of 3 for 18 in 4 overs. Debutant leg-spinner Prema Rawal also impressed on her second T20I appearance, conceding just 11 runs in her 4 overs. The final blow came when Deepti Sharma tore through the lower order, recording sensational figures of 3 for 0 in 1.1 overs to clean up Thailand for a paltry 65 in 16.1 overs.