India Make Powerful Start to Asia Cup with Thailand Rout

India began their Women’s Asia Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Thailand by 94 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Despite a late batting collapse, India’s bowlers produced a ruthless display to ensure their tournament opener never became a contest.

India posted 159/9 after being asked to bat first, before bowling Thailand out for just 65 in 16.1 overs. Shafali Verma’s explosive 64 and Deepti Sharma’s historic three-wicket spell were the standout performances in a comprehensive Indian victory.

Shafali Sets the Tone

India got off to an aggressive start, with Shafali once again showing why she remains one of the most dangerous batters in women’s T20 cricket. The right-hander smashed 64 from just 36 balls, striking eight fours and three sixes. Her innings provided India with the early momentum they needed on a Dubai surface that became increasingly difficult for batting as the ball got older.

Pratika Rawal, making her T20I debut, also contributed a brisk 22 from 18 deliveries, while Smriti Mandhana crossed another significant career milestone by moving past New Zealand’s Suzie Bates to become the second-highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket.

However, India’s innings took a dramatic turn after reaching 91/1. Thailand’s bowlers exploited the conditions brilliantly, with Suleeporn Laomi claiming three wickets as India lost eight wickets for only 46 runs. India eventually recovered enough to reach 159/9, with the total looking competitive but perhaps below what seemed possible after their strong start.

Deepti Turns the Game Into a Rout

If Thailand had any hope of chasing the target, Deepti Sharma quickly extinguished it. Playing her 150th T20I, Deepti produced a remarkable spell of 3/0, taking three wickets without conceding a single run. Her performance also saw her become the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20I cricket. Nandani Sharma matched Deepti’s impact with three wickets for 18 runs, while India’s other bowlers continued to apply pressure. Thailand struggled to build partnerships and were eventually dismissed for 65. Nannapat Koncharoenkai offered some resistance with 41, but there was little support around her as India’s attack ran through the Thailand batting order.

India Have Plenty to Build On

The 94-run victory gives India an ideal beginning to their campaign, but the batting collapse will remain an area of concern. India were in complete control at 91/1 before losing wickets in clusters. Against stronger opponents later in the tournament, such a collapse could prove costly. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has also stressed the importance of not taking any opposition lightly.

Still, the bigger picture remains hugely encouraging. India’s experienced core delivered, Shafali provided the attacking spark, and the bowling unit demonstrated its depth. With India now turning their attention towards Hong Kong, China on September 3, the defending strength of their campaign has already been made clear. The Asia Cup is only beginning, but India have sent an early warning to the rest of the field: they remain one of the teams to beat.

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