India began their Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 94-run victory over Thailand in Dubai on Sunday, with Shafali Verma praising the team’s spin-bowling strength after a dominant performance with the ball.India posted 159/9 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Shafali led the scoring with an aggressive 64 off 36 balls, including eight fours and three sixes, before India’s bowlers dismantled the Thailand batting line-up for just 65 in 16.1 overs.The biggest highlight of India’s bowling effort was veteran all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who produced a remarkable spell of 3/0 in 1.1 overs. Playing her 150th T20I, Deepti conceded no runs and struck three times to put Thailand under severe pressure.Nandani Sharma also picked up three wickets for 18 runs, while Shree Charani returned figures of 2/10. Together, India’s bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals and never allowed Thailand to build a meaningful partnership.

Shafali provides the platform

India’s innings revolved around Shafali’s aggressive approach at the top of the order. She brought up her 19th T20I half-century from 26 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes at the time of reaching the milestone.She eventually fell for 64, with Thailand’s Suleeporn Laomi emerging as the most successful bowler with 3/26. Thailand then fought back strongly with the ball, restricting India from a position of 108/2 to 137/9 before India finished on 159/9.Kranti Gaud provided a late boost with an unbeaten 15 off eight balls, helping India cross the 150-run mark.

Thailand unable to handle India’s spin

The chase never gathered momentum. Thailand lost wickets regularly, with wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai providing the only substantial resistance with 41 off 48 balls.Deepti, Nandani and Charani combined to claim eight wickets between them, as Thailand slipped from 43/4 to 65 all out.The result gives India a strong start in Group A, although the batting collapse in the second half of the innings remains an area the team will want to address before facing stronger opposition.India’s next match is against Hong Kong, China on September 3.