India-Pakistan games rarely finish before the second drinks break. This one barely lasted two hours. Pakistan batted first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday night, were shot out for 55, and India knocked off the target in under nine overs.
It was the ninth match of the Women's Asia Cup 2026, and by the end of it India had sealed top spot in Group A.
India vs Pakistan Women's Asia Cup 2026 Result
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and chose to bat. That decision unravelled almost immediately once India's spinners came on.
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Women | 55 all out (18.1 overs) | Lowest women's T20I total |
| India Women | 57/3 (8.4 overs) | Won by 7 wickets, 68 balls to spare |
Shree Charani, currently the top-ranked bowler in the women's T20I rankings, finished with 3 for 7 and took two wickets in her opening over. Deepti Sharma picked up 2 for 5 and trapped Fatima Sana lbw for a duck. Prema Rawat chipped in as well, and Pakistan simply never found a partnership.
The 55 went past Pakistan's previous women's T20I low of 56 — made, oddly enough, on the same Dubai ground against New Zealand two years ago.
Fatima Sana's Fight and the Shafali Send-Off
Defending 56 is close to impossible, but Fatima Sana did not treat it that way. She took all three Indian wickets to fall, finishing with 3 for 17 from her three overs, including Shafali Verma for 12 off six balls.
The dismissal came with a send-off — Fatima gestured towards Shafali as she walked off — and that clip is a large part of why this match was still trending on Sunday morning. Plenty of former players called the celebration unnecessary given the state of the game.
Shafali Verma's 3,000-Run Milestone
Shafali needed seven runs before the match to reach 3,000 in women's T20Is, and she got them off the first two balls of the innings. At 22 years and 220 days, she is the youngest player to the landmark, and at 2,182 balls faced, the fastest — a record previously held by Australia's Alyssa Healy.
She is the third Indian to 3,000 in the format, after Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana.
Harmanpreet had her own line in the record books that night. This was her 150th T20I as captain, more than any other player, male or female. She finished unbeaten on 18 and hit the winning runs, with Deepti Sharma 12 not out at the other end.
How India Topped Group A
Three matches, three wins, six points. India beat Thailand in their opener on August 30, then thrashed Hong Kong China by 137 runs on September 3 — the game where Smriti Mandhana made 124 off 64 balls, the highest score in Women's Asia Cup history and her 18th international century, a world record.
Pakistan finished second in Group A. Group B has Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the UAE and Indonesia, with defending champions Sri Lanka leading the way.
Women's Asia Cup 2026 Semi-Final: What Happens Next
As Group A winners, India go into the semi-final against the runner-up from Group B. The two semi-finals are on September 10 and 11, and the final is on September 13. Every match is at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India have never lost a group stage at this tournament, but the 2024 edition ended with Sri Lanka beating them in the final. That is the result this squad is carrying into the knockouts. For more on where these players sit in the wider game, see our look at the top 10 cricket players in 2026.
Conclusion
A 68-ball win over Pakistan is not the sort of contest anyone remembers for the cricket, but it did give India top spot, a record for Shafali, and one more captaincy milestone for Harmanpreet. The tournament gets serious from September 10. If you missed this side's other big result this year, our report on India Women's historic Test win at Lord's is worth a read.
Scores and statistics are compiled from published match reports. Fixtures for the knockout stage are as scheduled by the Asian Cricket Council and may change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the India vs Pakistan match in the Women's Asia Cup 2026?
India won by seven wickets on September 5, 2026, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan were bowled out for 55 and India reached 57 for 3 in 8.4 overs, finishing with 68 balls to spare.
Is 55 Pakistan's lowest total in women's T20 internationals?
Yes. The 55 all out in 18.1 overs is Pakistan's lowest women's T20I total. It went past their previous low of 56, also made in Dubai, against New Zealand two years earlier.
What record did Shafali Verma break against Pakistan?
She became the youngest and fastest by balls faced to 3,000 runs in women's T20Is — 22 years and 220 days, off 2,182 deliveries, passing Alyssa Healy's mark.
Has India qualified for the Women's Asia Cup 2026 semi-finals?
Yes. India won all three Group A matches against Thailand, Hong Kong China and Pakistan to finish top with six points, and will face the Group B runner-up in the semi-final.
When are the Women's Asia Cup 2026 semi-finals and final?
The semi-finals are on September 10 and 11, 2026, and the final is on September 13. All matches are being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.