India Women Dominate Pakistan in Asia Cup 2026 Thriller

On a breezy evening in Dubai, the India women’s cricket side turned the Group A match against Pakistan into a masterclass of all‑round cricket. Pakistan elected to bat first, perhaps hoping a decent total would put pressure on the Indian bowlers, but what unfolded was nothing short of a batting collapse.

Their innings fizzled out at 55 all out in just 18.1 overs – the lowest total ever recorded in a women’s T20 International. Spin was the name of the game: Shree Charani and Prema Rawat each snared three wickets, while Deepti Sharma added two more. At one heart‑stopping moment Pakistan were six down for a mere 15 runs.

India’s chase was almost a formality. The target of 56 was reached with 68 balls still left, finishing at 57/3 in 8.4 overs. Young gun Shafali Verma exploded with a quick 12 off six balls, becoming the youngest player to cross the 3,000‑run mark in women’s T20Is – a nifty little milestone before she was bowled out by Fatima Sana.

Speaking of Sana, the Pakistani captain managed to break the rhythm by picking up all three Indian wickets, a small consolation in an otherwise tough day. Yet the real hero with the bat was the captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who stayed unbeaten on 18 and, in a flourish of confidence, sealed the victory with a soaring six.

For her spell of 3 wickets for just 7 runs in four overs, Sree Charani earned the Player‑of‑the‑Match award. She herself shrugged it off as “just another day at the office”, though the numbers certainly sang a different tune.

After the win, India sit proudly at the top of Group A, three victories from three matches. The semi‑final looms on Thursday, 10 September, with the opponent yet to be announced. Meanwhile, Pakistan will have to regroup quickly before facing Hong Kong and China in their bid for a semi‑final spot.

In the post‑match interview, Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on the significance of the game, praising the bowlers for sticking to the plan and noting the importance of reading the pitch. She also hinted at a personal milestone – reaching 150 T20I caps as India’s skipper – and expressed gratitude to everyone who’s helped her get this far.