The India women’s cricket team reached the final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 after beating Bangladesh by 40 runs in the first semi-final.
The match was mostly one-sided, but there was a small moment on the field that caught the attention of fans.
India opener Smriti Mandhana had a rare failure with the bat and was dismissed for just two runs. After taking her catch, Bangladesh player Shorna Akter appeared to gesture towards Smriti and celebrated by asking her to stay quiet.
India, however, had the last laugh as the team went on to beat Bangladesh comfortably and book a place in the final.
What happened with Smriti Mandhana?
Smriti Mandhana opened the innings for India but could not stay at the crease for long. She scored only two runs before being dismissed by Bangladesh off-spinner Sultana Khatun.
Smriti tried to play a big shot but did not get the timing right. The ball went towards mid-on, where Shorna Akter took a simple catch.
After completing the catch, Shorna appeared to make a gesture asking Smriti to stay quiet. She also raised her other hand while celebrating the wicket.
The moment quickly became a talking point among cricket fans.
How did India give Bangladesh the perfect reply?
While Smriti could not do much with the bat, India had enough other players to put Bangladesh under pressure.
India scored 149 runs for six wickets in 20 overs after being asked to bat first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh needed to score well to stay in the game, but the Indian bowlers did not allow them to build a strong partnership. The Bangladesh team finished with 109 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs.
India won the semi-final by 40 runs and booked its place in the final.
How did India reach the Women’s Asia Cup final?
India’s win over Bangladesh took them into the final of the Women’s Asia Cup for the 10th time.
The Indian team has been one of the strongest sides in the history of the tournament. India had already won the Women’s Asia Cup seven times before the 2026 edition.
The team will now look to win another title after making it to the final once again.
Who will India face in the final?
India will play the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the final.
The final will be played on September 13. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team will enter the match with confidence after a strong win over Bangladesh.
For Smriti Mandhana, the early dismissal was disappointing, but the Indian team made sure that one player’s failure did not affect the result. The bigger answer came from the team as India comfortably secured its place in the final.