India women return to Delhi after triumphant Asia Cup campaign

The Indian women's cricket team returned to New Delhi on Monday after securing the Women's Asia Cup title with a resounding win over Sri Lanka in Dubai. The team, comprising notable players such as Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Bharti Fulmali, and Nandani Sharma, was greeted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

India demonstrated an outstanding all-round performance, setting a target of 183/5, which Sri Lanka fell short of in the final, conceding just 111 runs in 20 overs. Sree Charani was the standout bowler, taking four wickets for just 20 runs. The team's opening pair, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, laid the foundation for their impressive total.

Shafali Verma, the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 236 runs, and Mandhana, who surpassed Mithali Raj as the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket with 213 runs, put together a record-breaking 129-run opening stand. Shafali finished the tournament with a record-breaking 68, the fastest women's Asia Cup fifty, and three fifties, while Mandhana contributed 59 runs.

The duo's partnership was pivotal in India's victory. Despite their successful campaign, India faced a controversy during the trophy presentation ceremony. The Indian team was not allowed to collect the Asia Cup trophy from the Asian Cricket Council president, Mohsin Naqvi, who also happens to be the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The Indian team chose not to receive the trophy, an act that mirrors a similar incident from the men's Asia Cup last year.