A breathtaking century from Shafali Verma has sent India into another continental final, setting up a high-stakes India vs Sri Lanka clash for women’s cricket gold in Japan. The Indian opener smashed an unbeaten 100 from just 49 balls against Bangladesh in the semi-final, powering India to 195/4 before the bowlers dismissed Bangladesh for only 81. The 114-run victory secured India’s place in the gold-medal match on September 22.

It was Shafali’s maiden international hundred in the shortest format and arrived at exactly the right moment for the India women's national cricket team, who are defending the gold medal they won at Hangzhou in 2023.The India vs Sri Lanka women’s cricket final will be played on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. The gold-medal match starts at 10:30 AM IST. In India, viewers can watch the match on the Sony Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on Sony LIV.

Shafali Verma Gives India Momentum Before India vs Sri Lanka Final

Few players could have produced a better statement before a major final than Shafali Verma did against Bangladesh. India elected to bat in the semi-final and immediately attacked. Smriti Mandhana struck 37 from 19 balls before falling at the end of the powerplay, by which point India had already reached 72/1. Shafali then took control.

She reached fifty from only 24 deliveries and continued attacking rather than slowing down as the century approached. Her hundred arrived from 49 balls and included three fours and nine sixes. Harmanpreet Kaur supported her with 40 from 33 balls during a 94-run partnership. The Shafali Verma century allowed India to reach 195/4, a total Bangladesh never seriously threatened.

Shafali Verma Century Creates Asian Games History

The significance of the innings went beyond qualification for the final. Shafali Verma century made her the first cricketer to score a hundred in Asian Games cricket, according to reports following the semi-final. It was also her first century in women’s T20 internationals. Her 49-ball hundred matched the pace of Harmanpreet Kaur’s fastest T20I century for India, while the nine sixes took Shafali past Smriti Mandhana on India’s women’s T20I six-hitting list. For an opener whose role is built around aggressive powerplay batting, reaching three figures without abandoning that approach was particularly important. India did not need Shafali merely to survive. They needed her to dictate the match. She did exactly that.

Bangladesh Women vs India Women Semi-Final Became One-Sided

The bangladesh women vs india women semi-final effectively turned once India passed 190. Bangladesh needed an exceptional chase, but India’s bowling attack gave them virtually no opportunity to build momentum. Nandani Sharma removed Juairiya Ferdous early, while Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani struck during the powerplay. Bangladesh were 39/3 after six overs and continued losing wickets at regular intervals.

Deepti Sharma finished with 3/7, Nandani took 3/25 and Sree Charani claimed 2/7 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 81 in 15.4 overs. India won by 114 runs. The emphatic bangladesh women vs india women result also demonstrated the depth within the Indian side. Shafali dominated with the bat, but India did not depend on one player once Bangladesh began their chase.

India Women’s National Cricket Team Chasing Second Straight Gold

The india women's national cricket team entered the 2026 tournament as defending champions after winning the inaugural women’s cricket gold at Hangzhou in 2023. Their current campaign has been similarly dominant. India began with an eight-wicket quarter-final victory over hosts Japan. Japan were dismissed for 57 before Shafali smashed an unbeaten 40 from just 15 balls as India completed the chase in only five overs. India then produced an even more comprehensive performance against Bangladesh. That leaves one final hurdle. A victory over Sri Lanka would give India consecutive women’s cricket gold medals at the Asian Games and continue an impressive run of results against regional opposition.

India vs Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Final: When Is the Match?

The India vs Sri Lanka women's cricket gold-medal match will be played on Tuesday, September 22, at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. The match is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:30 AM IST. India reached the final by beating Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka qualified after producing an excellent chase against Pakistan.

Pakistan posted 177/4 in their semi-final, but Sri Lanka reached 178/2 with more than two overs remaining. Captain Chamari Athapaththu led the chase with an unbeaten 83 from 50 deliveries. That performance means the India vs Sri Lanka women's cricket final brings together two of the most dangerous opening batters in the tournament: Shafali and Athapaththu.

India vs Sri Lanka Comes Just Days After Asia Cup Final

The india vs sri lanka gold-medal contest comes unusually soon after the teams met for another major title. Sri Lanka reached the Women’s Asia Cup final earlier this month but lost to India, who reclaimed the continental trophy with a 72-run victory. That recent result gives both teams unusually fresh knowledge of each other. India know what Sri Lanka’s bowlers are likely to attempt against Mandhana, Shafali and Harmanpreet. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have recent experience of India’s spin attack and middle-order combinations.

Why Shafali’s Form Could Decide the Final

India’s biggest advantage entering the final may be the form of their opener. Shafali scored an unbeaten 40 from 15 balls against Japan and followed it with an unbeaten century against Bangladesh. That means she arrives at the final having already demonstrated two different forms of dominance: a five-over chase requiring immediate aggression and a full first innings in which she had to sustain her attack over a much longer period.

In T20 cricket, an opener capable of changing the match inside the powerplay can force the opposition to abandon its preferred bowling plans. Sri Lanka will therefore need to find a method of preventing Shafali from establishing momentum early. Simply bowling defensively may not be enough.

Gold Medal Gives India One Final Target

The Asian Games final presents India with an opportunity to complete another dominant continental campaign. They have beaten Japan comfortably, dismantled Bangladesh by 114 runs and now face a Sri Lankan side they defeated in another final only days earlier. Yet gold cannot be assumed. Athapaththu’s form, Sri Lanka’s confidence after chasing 178 against Pakistan and the pressure of a winner-takes-all match mean India will need another complete performance.

For Shafali, the task is equally clear. Her century has already become one of the defining individual performances of the tournament. What matters now is whether she can carry that form into the match that decides the medal. The semi-final belonged to Shafali Verma. The final will determine whether that extraordinary innings becomes the performance that launched India towards another gold.