BCCI Secretary Saikia, Mallikarjun Kharge hail India women’s Asia Cup…

New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday congratulated the Indian women’s cricket team after their commanding 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 final, praising the team’s consistency, confidence and teamwork throughout the tournament.

“Heartiest congratulations to Team India, Women in Blue, on a commanding 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Final, making the whole country proud and jubilant. A truly superlative performance throughout the tournament, marked by consistency, confidence and teamwork. Well done, Harman, Smriti and the entire team, along with Head Coach Amol Mazumdar and the support staff. Wishing Team India the very best for their next big challenge—the Asian Games in Japan. Keep the tricolour flying high!” Saikia wrote on X. afrikasportnews.co.za

Heartiest congratulations to Team India, Women in Blue, on a commanding 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Final, making the whole country proud and jubiliant.

A truly superlative performance throughout the tournament, marked by consistency, confidence and teamwork.… pic.twitter.com/WTV82oG3sG

— Devajit LON Saikia (@lonsaikia) September 14, 2026

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also congratulated the team for lifting the Asia Cup title and said the victory would inspire young girls across the country.

“A glorious moment for Indian cricket! Heartiest congratulations to our Women’s Cricket Team on lifting the Asia Cup and making India proud. May this triumph inspire young girls across the country to dream big and take the field. Wishing our champions many more victories ahead!” Kharge posted on X.

A glorious moment for Indian cricket!

Heartiest congratulations to our Women’s Cricket Team on lifting the Asia Cup and making India proud.

May this triumph inspire young girls across the country to dream big and take the field. Wishing our champions many more victories… pic.twitter.com/onwjACBNi8

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 14, 2026

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal lauded the performance of the Indian women’s team, calling them the nation’s pride.

“India’s daughters dominate in the Asia Cup. Heartiest congratulations to #TeamIndia on winning the Women’s Asia Cup. The nation is proud of you. Keep shining glory on the tricolour just like this,” Goyal wrote.

एशिया कप में भारत की बेटियों की धाक #TeamIndia को Womens Asia Cup जीत पर हार्दिक बधाई। देश को आप पर गर्व है। ऐसे ही तिरंगे की शान बढ़ाती रहें। pic.twitter.com/bUzuCFWZ8U

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 14, 2026

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulated the team for winning their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title and highlighted their unbeaten run in the tournament.

“Congratulations to our women’s cricket team for becoming the champions of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026. Our team clinched this title by remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament and secured victory in the Asia Cup for the 8th time,” Birla said on X.

Birla added that the team displayed confidence, discipline and team spirit in every match, describing the victory as a reflection of the hard work and determination of the country’s daughters.

“Playing with confidence, discipline, and team spirit in every match, the Indian women cricketers gave a splendid demonstration of their talent and determination. This victory is not just about a trophy, but a triumph of the strength, hard work, and dreams of the daughters of our nation,” Birla added.

“Salutations and best wishes to every player of the Indian women’s cricket team on this historic achievement.Your accomplishment sends a powerful message of inspiration to the youth of the country, especially to our daughters, that you should dream big, work hard, and move forward with full determination to achieve your goals,” Lok Sabha Speaker Birla concluded.

Women’s T20 Asia Cup Championship 2026 विजेता बनने पर हमारी महिला क्रिकेट टीम को बधाई।

हमारी टीम ने पूरे टूर्नामेंट में अजेय रहते हुए यह खिताब अपने नाम किया, और 8वीं बार एशिया कप में विजयी हुई।

हर मुकाबले में आत्मविश्वास, अनुशासन और टीम भावना के साथ खेलते हुए भारतीय महिला… pic.twitter.com/iA5tfV66eX

— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) September 14, 2026

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also hailed the achievement, saying the triumph would inspire millions of young girls to take up cricket and dream of representing India.

“Another glorious chapter for Indian cricket! Heartiest congratulations to our champions on lifting the Women’s #AsiaCup for the 8th time. With remarkable consistency and sheer determination, the team dominated the tournament and once again demonstrated the strength of Indian women’s cricket. This memorable triumph will inspire millions of young girls to take up the sport and dream of representing India,” Gadkari wrote on X.

Another glorious chapter for Indian cricket!

Heartiest congratulations to our champions on lifting the Women’s #AsiaCup for the 8th time. With remarkable consistency and sheer determination, the team dominated the tournament and once again demonstrated the strength of… pic.twitter.com/Pa5HjowPnC

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) September 14, 2026

Congress leader Pawan Khera congratulated the champions and said the victory was an opportunity to celebrate the contribution and achievements of women in the country.

“The Indian women’s cricket team has won the Women’s Asia Cup 2026! Heartiest congratulations to our champions for bringing home this glory. Let’s use this moment to remember: women are the backbone of our lives – and our country. Let’s celebrate their victories. But let’s also recognise, respect, and hold space for women and womanhood every single day,” Congress leader Khera wrote on X.

The Indian women’s cricket team has won the Women’s Asia Cup 2026!

Heartiest congratulations to our champions for bringing home this glory.

Let’s use this moment to remember: women are the backbone of our lives – and our country.

Let’s celebrate their victories. But let’s… pic.twitter.com/g9M9R8O5JX

— Pawan Khera ಪವನ್ ಖೇರಾ (@Pawankhera) September 14, 2026

India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to clinch their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma starring with the bat, while the bowlers delivered a dominant performance in the summit clash. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

Srishti Bhattacharya, New Delhi

Abhishek Sharma produced a stunning knock in the first T20I against Afghanistan, smashing 82 off just 32 balls as India chased down 157 in a mere 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

The left-hand batter brought up his half-century in just 22 balls and also completed 6,000 runs in T20 cricket during his explosive innings. Of those runs, as many as 1,711 have come in 56 T20I innings for India, including two centuries.

After Sanju Samson fell early, Abhishek took charge alongside Ishan Kishan. The pair added 121 runs for the second wicket, with Ishan scoring 42 off 33 before Abhishek was dismissed by Mohammad Nabi.

India eventually finished the chase with 38 balls to spare.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Varun Chakaravarthy highlighted India’s confidence against spin.

“While sitting in the dressing room, I was just telling someone that, against our team batting line-up, you can’t bowl spin,” said Varun. “So, if you bowl spin against our batting line-up, they’re just going to smack left, right and centre. We are just so used to playing spinners. I have personally bowled against them, played against them, so I know how hard it is.”

India will face Afghanistan in the second T20I on September 15.

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New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): Union Ministers on Monday congratulated the Indian junior men’s and women’s hockey teams after their title victories at the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026, praising the players for their dominant performances and contributions to the country’s sporting success.

The Indian Junior Women’s Team have been crowned champions of the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 after edging past hosts China 1-0 in a closely fought final on Sunday. Sanika Chandrakant Mane’s 17th-minute strike proved enough for the defending champions to retain their continental crown and complete a hat-trick of Women’s Junior Asia Cup titles. The triumph also secured India’s qualification for the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup.

In recognition of the achievement, Hockey India announced prize money of Rs 3 lakh for each player and Rs 1.5 lakh for each member of the support staff.

The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team were crowned champions of the 2026 Men’s Junior Asia Cup after defeating Korea 4-1 in the Gold Medal match in Moqi, China, on Sunday. The victory saw India successfully defend the title and lift the continental crown for a record sixth time.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya lauded both teams for their achievements and described the victories as a reflection of India’s growing dominance in Asian hockey.

“Total dominance in Asian hockey! Heartiest congratulations to our Junior Men and Junior Women for their phenomenal title victories at the AHF Junior Asia Cup," Mandaviya said in a post on X.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal congratulated the junior women’s hockey team for securing their third consecutive AHF Junior Asia Cup title.

“A historic hat-trick! Heartiest congratulations to our Junior Women’s Hockey Team on winning their third consecutive AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 title. The nation takes immense pride in the sheer grit, discipline, and dominance displayed by our daughters. Best wishes to the entire team for the FIH Junior World Cup ahead," Goyal said on X.

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju also hailed the women’s team’s achievement, congratulating players, coaches and support staff for the historic feat.

“CHAMPIONS AGAIN! Our Junior Women’s Hockey Team is the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 champions, securing the title for the third consecutive time! Heartiest congratulations to the players, coaches & support staff on this wonderful achievement. May this success inspire many more young athletes & take Indian hockey to even greater heights," Rijiju said on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the junior men’s hockey team for winning the Asia Cup title and praised their determination and command of the game.

“Applause to our junior men’s hockey team for winning the Asia Cup. With the vigour and command of the game, you have once again demonstrated the true mettle of Indian sportsmanship and set an inspiring example for others to follow," Shah said on X. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

India vs Afghanistan 2026: Former world No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma smashed a blazing 82 off 32 balls with 7 sixes and 7 fours as Shreyas Iyer’s side began a three-match series against ‘hosts’ Afghanistan with a dominant seven-wicket win and more than six overs to spare at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.

Abhishek’s explosive knock came with a strike-rate of 256.25 and put on a match-winning partnership of 121 runs in just 53 balls with his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Ishan Kishan, who notched up 42 in 33 balls with 1 six and 5 fours. The Team India opener set a new T20I world record for India surpassing former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav in the process.

The Punjab southpaw, who was retained for Rs 14 crore by Kavya Maran’s SRH, notched up his third fifty-plus score at a strike-rate of over 250 for India in his T20I career. Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav has hit two fifty-plus scores at a strike-rate of 250 in T20I cricket while batters like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya have only one fifty at strike-rate of over 250.

WATCH Abhishek Sharma score a blazing fifty against Afghanistan in the 1st T20I match HERE…

Abhishek Sharma doing what he does best

Stream the Afghanistan vs India T20I series LIVE only on FanCode #AFGvIND pic.twitter.com/M6C9cEspAY

— FanCode (@FanCode) September 13, 2026

Abhishek Sharma’s fifty came off only 22 balls on Sunday – his 14th fifty in T20I cricket. Out of these 14 fifties, 12 have come under 25 balls. No other batter in history of T20I cricket has achieved this feat with Suryakumar Yadav being 2nd best with 9 fifties in less than 25 balls.

“I mean, of course, once you have decided, because I still remember two years back we decided we want to play in a certain way. We want to dominate all the teams throughout the whole year before the World Cup and things went pretty well for all the team, and especially for the batsmen as well,” Abhishek Sharma said in the post-match presentation on Sunday.

Abhishek Sharma won his sixth ‘Player of the Match’ award in T20I, equally the record of Ishan Kishan and Kuldeep Yadav in this format for India. Suryakumar Yadav holds the Indian record currently with 17 ‘Player of the Match’ awards while former India captain Virat Kohli retired with 16.

“But I think one or two series won’t define our team as a batting unit, because the way we all think as a batting unit, it always makes a team first. So we always wanted to give that start as openers, especially wickets like this, if you’re chasing 150, 160, and you give an early start as openers, it always makes you on the winning side,” Abhishek added.

Indian captain Shreyas Iyer felt Abhishek Sharma’s batting was simply ‘flawless’ on Sunday. “Starting off with Abhishek, I feel that the shots he played, it was flawless, and some of them were exemplary. But talking about Ishan, yeah, he’s been in great form currently, and the way he’s been portraying himself in the dressing room and also on the ground during practice sessions, he’s very relaxed, calm, and he knows his game at the moment,” Iyer said.