India Women crushed Thailand Women by 94 runs in the third match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai. After being invited to bat first, India posted 159/9 in their 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma attacked the bowlers from the start. Shafali smashed a brilliant 64 off 36 balls and helped India dominate the powerplay.

However, Thailand’s spinners changed the game after the fielding restrictions ended. Legspinner Suleeporn Laomi (3/26 in 4 overs) led the fightback and triggered a dramatic collapse. India lost eight wickets for just 46 runs and finished with 159/9.

Thailand could not take advantage of India’s lower-than-expected total. India’s bowlers produced an outstanding performance and dismissed Thailand for only 65. Nandani Sharma (3/18 in 4 overs) and Kranti Gaud (1/26 in 4 overs) made early breakthroughs, while Deepti Sharma (3/0 in 1.1 overs) delivered a memorable spell in her 150th T20I. Shree Charani (2/10 in 3 overs) also played her part.

Overall, India’s bowlers guided the team to a comfortable victory. With this win, India started their campaign in dominant fashion, while Thailand need to win their next match to remain in contention.

Shafali sets the tone

India got off to a rapid start. Smriti Mandhana struck three boundaries in the first over before Shafali took control of the innings. Thailand left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong came under immediate pressure. Shafali hit her for two boundaries in each of her first two overs.

Mandhana was then run out while attempting a second run. However, her dismissal did not slow India down. Shafali continued to attack and scored 33 runs from just 17 balls during the powerplay. She then added 53 runs for the second wicket with Pratika Rawal, who was making her T20I debut.

Shafali adjusted her approach once the field spread out. She attacked the loose deliveries while showing patience whenever Thailand’s bowlers managed to get assistance from the pitch.

She also took on Laomi, hitting her over wide long-off for a big six. Soon after, Shafali reached her 19th T20I half-century. She needed only 26 balls to reach the milestone. At 91 for 1 after 8.5 overs, India appeared to be heading towards a total of more than 200.

Thailand spinners trigger collapse

India’s batting problems in the middle overs soon returned. Head coach Amol Muzumdar had recently said he wanted India to play attacking cricket. However, Thailand’s spinners exposed the same middle-order weakness that had troubled India during their two successive group-stage exits at the T20 World Cups.

Rawal was the first to fall. Laomi deceived her with flight, and Rawal misjudged the delivery while attempting a cut. She was bowled. Harmanpreet Kaur struggled to score freely against the spin. She eventually attempted a slog sweep against Putthawong but only managed to top-edge the shot.

Laomi then produced another major breakthrough. She dismissed Shafali and Richa Ghosh with successive deliveries. Shafali attempted to attack a seam-up delivery but chipped it back to Laomi. Ghosh then drove another ball straight to extra cover.

Thailand continued to put pressure on India. Offspinner Sunida Chaturongrattana struck twice in three deliveries. Bharti Fulmali pulled a short delivery straight to deep midwicket, while Prema Rawat charged down the pitch and was stumped. India had lost eight wickets for 72 runs after the powerplay. Five of those wickets had fallen for only 25 runs after Shafali’s dismissal. India eventually managed to cross 150. Kranti Gaud provided some late momentum with a boundary and a six, helping India finish on 159/9.

India’s bowlers dominate the chase

Thailand would have been pleased with their bowling effort at the halfway stage. They had restricted India to a score much lower than the one India appeared likely to reach during the opening overs. However, Thailand still had a difficult chase ahead.

Natthakan Chantham opened the innings for Thailand after regular captain Naruemol Chaiwai missed the match because of an ankle injury suffered against Hong Kong. Chantham, who has previously played in the Women’s T20 Challenge in India, lasted only five deliveries. She attempted to drive a delivery away from her body but played it onto her own stumps.

Thailand then suffered another setback. Phannita Maya survived an early opportunity when Deepti Sharma failed to hold a slip catch off Kranti Gaud. The reprieve did not last long. Nandani Sharma dismissed Maya in the following over. India’s bowlers then tightened the pressure. N Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma joined the attack and took four wickets across four overs.

Thailand’s chase quickly collapsed, leaving wicketkeeper Nannapat Koncharoenkai as the only batter able to provide meaningful resistance. Koncharoenkai scored 41 from 48 balls and was the only Thailand batter to reach double figures. Her innings prevented the score from becoming even lower.

Deepti creates history

Deepti Sharma’s performance added another important milestone to the match. Playing her 150th T20I, she became only the third Indian woman to reach the landmark. She also became the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20I cricket during the match.

It was fitting that Deepti took the final wicket of Koncharoenkai. Richa Ghosh produced a superb diving effort to help complete the dismissal. Thailand were eventually bowled out for 65, giving India a 94-run victory.

Brief Scorecard