India began its Women’s Asia Cup 2026 campaign with a thumping 94-run win over Thailand at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Shafali Verma struck her 19th T20I half-century before the Indian bowlers, led by all-rounder Deepti Sharma, wrapped up a facile victory.
Chasing 160, the Thai were bundled out for just 65 in 16.1 overs, with wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai waging a lone battle with her 48-ball 41.
Deepti was undoubtedly the pick of the bowlers for the Women in Blue. The Agra player marked her 150th T20I with a double-wicket maiden, removing Naomi Hamilton and Nannaphat Chaihan in the ninth over. She ended her 1.1-over spell with three wickets and didn’t concede any runs.
Pacers Nandni Sharma (3/18), Kranti Gaud (1/26), and left-arm spinner N. Shree Charani (2/10 in three overs) were also amongst the wickets.
However, the Thailand side did have the Women in Blue in a spot of bother earlier in the match.
After losing the toss, openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali got the three-time champion off to a flying start before the former was run out by a direct throw.
Debutant Pratika Rawal hit an 18-ball 22, adding 53 runs for the second wicket with Shafali, before departing. India found itself at 108/3 in 11.3 overs — skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had just mistimed a shot and gotten out on five — before it lost six wickets for just 29 runs.
Suleeporn Laomi was the chief architect of India’s batting collapse after the leg-spinner removed Shafali and big-hitter Richa Ghosh on consecutive deliveries in the 13th over. Pacer Chanida Sutthiruang restricted the run flow with an economical 1/14 in three overs.
But an unbeaten eight-ball 15 from Kranti made sure India crossed the 150-run mark and posted a total that would have been out of Thailand’s reach.
Published on Aug 30, 2026