India began their DP World Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 94-run victory over Thailand at the Dubai International Stadium, despite suffering a significant middle-order collapse.
Thailand won the toss and elected to bowl, but India made a rapid start through Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.
Mandhana struck four boundaries in a brisk 19 from 10 balls before being run out, with India reaching 38 for one after three overs.
Verma maintained the pressure and shared a 53-run partnership with Pratika Rawal, helping India race to 91 for one by the end of the ninth over.
At that stage, India appeared on course for a total of around 170 or 180. Thailand’s spinners, however, changed the direction of the innings.
Rawal was bowled by Suleeporn Laomi for 22 before India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for five.
Verma continued to attack and reached 64 from 36 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 177.78. Her innings ended when she lobbed a return catch to Laomi.
Richa Ghosh was dismissed from the following delivery, giving Laomi two wickets in succession and leaving India 112 for five.
India continued to lose wickets and slipped to 137 for nine in the 18th over. Thailand had taken eight wickets for 46 runs after India’s strong start.
A valuable unbeaten final-wicket partnership between Kranti Gaud and Shree Charani then gave India a late lift. Gaud scored 15 from eight deliveries and Charani added six as the pair put on 22, taking India to 159 for nine.
Laomi finished as Thailand’s most effective bowler with three for 26. Sunida Chaturongrattana claimed two wickets, while captain Thipatcha Putthawong and Chanida Sutthiruang took one each.
India take control with the ball
Thailand’s chase suffered an immediate setback when Gaud bowled Nattakan Chantam for four in the opening over.
Phannita Maya followed for six, caught by Rawal off Nandni Sharma, before Charani trapped Aphisara Suwanchonrathi lbw for one.
Nannapat Koncharoenkai attempted to hold the innings together, but wickets continued to fall around her. Thailand went from 43 for three to 44 for six as India’s spinners took control.
Koncharoenkai provided Thailand’s only sustained resistance, scoring 41 from 48 balls with five boundaries. She was the final batter dismissed, caught by Ghosh off Deepti Sharma.
Thailand were bowled out for 65 in 16.1 overs, with India completing a decisive victory.
Nandni Sharma took three for 18, while Deepti claimed three wickets without conceding a run in 1.1 overs. Charani finished with two for 10, and Gaud took one for 26.
Shafali identifies middle-order concerns
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Shafali said the conditions became more difficult for batting as the innings progressed.
She explained that the new ball came on to the bat well, but the pitch began to offer more turn as the ball became older. Some deliveries also stayed low, making scoring more difficult during the middle overs.
Shafali said her innings was helped by the preparation she had completed at home for similar conditions. She was able to apply those methods effectively during her 64-run innings.
Shafali Verma of India plays a shot during the Match 3 of the DP World Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 between India and Thailand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on August 30, 2026.
Despite the comfortable margin of victory, she acknowledged that India’s collapse from 91 for one to 137 for nine required attention.
The batting group will review the dismissals and examine how it can manage the middle overs more effectively on pitches offering turn and uneven bounce.
Shafali also highlighted the variety within India’s spin attack. Deepti, Charani and Prema Rawat offer different styles, giving the team several options when conditions favour spin.
India are currently without injured all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, although Shafali indicated that she is recovering well.
She also praised the progress made by teams such as Thailand and the UAE, saying that more regular opportunities against leading international sides would help them close the experience gap.
Thailand take positives from bowling effort
Thailand captain Thipatcha Putthawong said the team could take encouragement from the way its bowlers responded after India’s fast start.
Reducing India to 137 for nine gave Thailand an opportunity to keep the target within reach. However, the 22 runs added by India’s final pair pushed the total to 159 and made the chase considerably more difficult.
Thailand then lost early wickets against India’s pace and spin and were unable to build the partnerships required to challenge the target.
Putthawong acknowledged that the batting performance fell short and accepted personal responsibility for contributing more in Thailand’s next match.
She remained proud of her team’s effort, particularly with the ball, and described the match against India as an important learning experience.
The result was decisive, but Thailand’s recovery during India’s innings showed what the developing side can produce. Their next challenge will be to carry that confidence into their batting and produce a more complete performance.
Brief scores: India 159-9 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 64, Pratika Rawal 22; Suleeporn Laomi 3-26) beat Thailand 65 all out in 16.1 overs (Nannapat Koncharoenkai 41; Nandni Sharma 3-18, Deepti Sharma 3-0) by 94 runs.
