India Women and Joe Root [Source: AFP]India Women’s cricket team won the gold medal with a huge win over Sri Lanka at the 2026 Women’s T20 Asian Games in Japan. In other news, England’s run-machine and former captain Joe Root achieved a significant batting record in ODIs. Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Tuesday, September 22. Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma crush SL as India clinch Asian Games 2026 goldTeam India crushed Sri Lanka Women by 147 runs in the final of the 2026 Women’s T20 Asian Games to clinch the coveted gold medal. Batting first in Nisshin, India mounted 216-3 from 20 overs courtesy of a fiery 45-ball 79 from Smriti Mandhana.Also Read- Shafali Verma Tops Most Runs In Calendar Year In WT20Is During Women's Asian Games FinalLater, spinners Deepti Sharma (3-6) as well as Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani skittled the entire Sri Lanka line-up for just 69 in 15.4 overs.Shafali Verma inches closer to number one ICC rankingShafali Verma concluded the 2026 Women’s T20 Asian Games in Japan with 188 runs in just three innings at an astonishing average of 188. Finishing the tournament as its highest run-getter, mere days after mounting 236 runs at the Asia Cup 2026, the blistering Indian opener has now climbed to number four spot on the latest ICC T20I rankings for women’s batters. She even soared past teammate Smriti Mandhana in the process.India edge out Japan in T20I thrillerTeam India edged out hosts Japan by just two runs in their one-off T20I match at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Sano. Japan bowler Charlie Hara-Hinze picked up the important wickets of Indian opener Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer to restrict the visitors to 32-4 in the five-overs-a-side affair.Later, tight spells from Axar Patel and Washington Sundar kept Japan down to just 30-3 as India completed 200 wins in T20I cricket.Joe Root completes 23,000 international runs in record timeJoe Root composed 44 runs off 52 balls against Sri Lanka in England’s first ODI of the series at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street. In the process, the legendary batter also completed 23,000 runs across all formats of international cricket.Root scaled the landmark figure in just 521 innings, thus becoming the second fastest cricketer in the world after former Indian captain Virat Kohli to do so.Mark Wood announces retirement England fast bowler Mark Wood has announced his retirement from international cricket. The cricketer confirmed the same through an explosive social media post. The speedster explained that his injury concerns have been preventing him from playing top-flight matches. Wood last played for England back in November last year during the opening match of the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia.Also Read- Meet Sachindu Colombage, Sri Lanka's New Hero Who Took Joe Root's Wicket On Debut
