![Tejal Hasabnis scored 51*(34) vs Bangladesh [Source: IndianCricketTeam/Instagram.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1771755424053_TejalHasabnisRisingStarsAsiaCup.jpg?type=hq)
Tejal Hasabnis scored 51*(34) vs Bangladesh [Source: IndianCricketTeam/Instagram.com]
India A Women's side met Bangladesh A Women's in the final of the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars on Sunday, February 22, morning in Bangkok as the Women in Blue looked to defend their title won in 2023. Similar to this final, the inaugural final of the competition also featured these two teams, where India had won the final by 31 runs.
In the lead-up to the final, India and Bangladesh topped their respective groups in the first stage of the tournament with 4 and 6 points to their names. India went on to defeat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets in the semi-final, followed by Bangladesh's 54-run win over Pakistan in the other semi-final.
As India lift the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars title for the 2026 edition by 46 runs, here's a brief look at how the game panned out.
India suffer an early collapse
Radha Yadav won the toss on the big day in Bangkok and elected to bat first, but the Bangladesh Women's team was all over the Indians in the first half of the innings. Following a cautious start from the in-form Dinesh Vrinda and Nandini Kashyap, Vrinda was cleaned up by the slow left-arm orthodox of Fatema Jahan on 19 (17) when the score read 30/1 in 5.1 overs.
What followed was a freakish collapse as Kashyap was soon run out for 8 off 15 and a golden duck for the Delhi Capitals star Minnu Mani, and 8(12) for Anushka Sharma. India were reduced to 44/4 in 8.1 overs before Tejal Hasabnis and Radha Yadav combined for a crucial 69-run stand.
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Hasabnis-Yadav stage a fightback
The recent WPL title-winning all-rounder Radha Yadav supported Hasabnis, who looked in a fine touch on what was a good surface for the spinners. Hasabnis got a 51*(34) with three fours and two sixes, alongside 36(30) with three fours and a six for Yadav. Before the latter was dismissed, the duo helped India to reach 113 in 16.3 overs.
Hasabnis batted alongside the lower middle-order and got India to 134/7 in 20 overs. Fahima Khatun ended with the figures of 4/25 (4), running through the Indian middle order.
Bangladesh left clueless with Rawat's spin-web
Bangladesh had a challenging task ahead of them to chase the 135-run target on a spin-friendly track, and India made sure they were ahead in the match early on. Medium pacer Saima Thakor drew the first blood in her second over to get rid of the opener Ishma Tanjim for just 3 (5).
The early wicket was backed up by economical spells from Tanuja Kanwar and Sonia Mendhiya, conceding at under 6 runs per over. Soon, the leg-spin of Prema Rawat was introduced, and the bowler was all over the Bangladesh middle-order as the ball turned square.
Rawat dismissed Sultana caught behind on 20(15), followed by crucial scalps of Sadia Akter and Lata Mondal, trapping them in her flight and consistency. She ended her spell with just 12 runs conceded and 3 wickets to her name. The leggie was complemented well by Radha Yadav, whose left-arm orthodox caught Sarmin Sultana's outside edge in her first over for 18(30).
Following up Rawat's match-winning spell, Mendhiya picked two wickets, alongside Tanuja Kanwar, while Mani got a wicket. Bangladesh were restricted to 88 runs in 19.1 overs and India lifted their second title in a row.
Yadav finished her effective spell with 1/16 to her name and ended with 10 wickets in the competition as the joint-highest wicket-taker.
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