India opened their 2026 Asia Cup campaign in Dubai with a dominant 94-run victory over Thailand on Sunday. After setting a target of 160, the Indian bowling attack dismantled the Thai lineup, bowling them out for just 65 runs in 16.1 overs. Nandni Sharma and Deepti Sharma were the standout performers with the ball, claiming three wickets each to stifle any potential resistance.
The Indian innings began with an explosive display from Shafali Verma, who smashed 64 off 36 balls. Supported by Smriti Mandhana, who contributed a quick-fire cameo, and debutant Pratika Rawal, India reached 65 runs during the powerplay. However, the momentum shifted after Rawal was bowled by Suleeporn Laomi. This dismissal sparked a significant collapse, with India sliding from 91 for 1 to 137 for 9 over a 50-ball stretch. Laomi finished with impressive figures of 3-26, though late-order hitting from Kranti Gaud helped India reach a final total of 159 for 9.
Thailand’s chase never gained traction, as they struggled to handle the pressure from the start. Nattakam Chantam was dismissed in the opening over by Gaud, and the wickets continued to tumble thereafter. Nannapat Koncharoenkai provided the only real resistance for Thailand, scoring 41 off 48 balls, but she received little support from her teammates. Aside from her effort, no other Thai batter managed to reach double digits, with Laomi’s 6 runs being the joint second-highest score of the innings.
The match concluded with a comprehensive result for the tournament favorites. Brief Scores: India 159/9 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 64, Pratika Rawal 22; Suleeporn Laomi 3-26) defeated Thailand 65 in 16.1 overs (Nannapat Koncharoenkai 41; Deepti Sharma 3-0, Nandni Sharma 3-18) by 94 runs. The report also notes that the tournament favourites blazed away to a quick start led by Shafali Verma’s 36-ball 64, put in to bat. The report also notes that despite the big margin of victory, India’s performance wasn’t without its share of worries. The report also notes that she was ably supported by Smriti Mandhana from the other end as the southpaw cracked four boundaries in her short 10-ball stay.
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