Our Bureau
Dubai
India defeated Bangladesh by 40 runs in the first semi-final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday, securing a place in the final after a disciplined all-round performance. India posted 149/6 in 20 overs before restricting Bangladesh to 109/7 in their allotted 20 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Shafali Verma was the standout performer, scoring a brisk 64 off 40 balls to anchor India’s innings on a challenging pitch. Her contribution proved crucial after vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was dismissed early. India’s middle order then helped maintain momentum, with Harmanpreet Kaur scoring 24, Richa Ghosh adding 21 and Deepti Sharma contributing 13.
Bangladesh, chasing 150, struggled to build partnerships against India’s bowling attack. Deepti Sharma led the defence with three wickets, delivering timely breakthroughs that prevented the chase from gaining momentum. Bangladesh’s batters found it difficult to score consistently, finishing well short of the target.
The victory marks India’s sixth appearance in the Women’s Asia Cup final, underlining the team’s continued dominance in the competition. It also highlights the side’s depth, with Shafali’s batting and Deepti’s bowling compensating for an uneven overall batting performance.
India will face Sri Lanka in the final on September 13, after Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the second semi-final. The Indian team will now look to convert its strong tournament run into another Asia Cup title.