Guwahati: India began their Women’s Asia Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 94-run victory over Thailand in their Group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Batting first after Thailand won the toss, India posted 159 for nine to set Thailand a target of 160. Shafali Verma top-scored with 64 off 36 deliveries, but India’s innings lost momentum after they slipped from 91 for one to 137 for nine.
Thailand’s Suleeporn Laomi played a key role in India’s collapse, claiming three wickets and also contributing to a run-out. Laomi dismissed Verma and Richa Ghosh off consecutive deliveries in her third over and was on a hat-trick.
India had earlier recovered well from the early dismissals of Smriti Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal. Mandhana scored 19 off 10 balls before being run out with India on 38, while Verma’s aggressive innings helped India reach 101 for two after 10 overs. She brought up her half-century in just 26 balls.
Chasing 160, Thailand struggled against India’s bowling attack and were bowled out for just 65 runs.
Deepti Sharma and Nandani Sharma claimed three wickets each as India wrapped up the match comfortably. Deepti’s three wickets came from just seven deliveries, and she conceded no runs during her spell.
With her final wicket of the match, Deepti also became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals.
India entered the tournament looking to improve their T20I form after a difficult year. They had lost nine of their 16 T20I matches in 2026, including an early exit from the World Cup in England in June.
Despite that run, India remain among the favourites for the Women’s Asia Cup, having won the tournament three times in its five editions.