When you dive into the world of sports history, cricket has carved out its own unique space. Filled with spirited rivalries, unbreakable bonds, and an endless display of grit, cricket is a world in its own right. But, let’s take a closer look at one corner of this universe that’s been catching some serious heat recently, women’s cricket. This is a sphere where raw talent, fiery passion, and relentless determination light up every ball bowled, every bat swung, and every catch made. A stage that truly encapsulates all this is the Women’s Cricket Asia Cup, a showcase of the best of the best in women’s cricket across Asia.

Ever since it came onto the scene, the Women’s Cricket Asia Cup has been churning out future stars and giving seasoned pros a platform to strut their stuff and lead their teams to glory. So, let’s take a moment to tip our hats to the champions of this esteemed tournament, as we run you through an extensive list of Women’s Cricket Asia Cup winners, right from the get-go till now.

List of Women’s Cricket Asia Cup Winners Till Date

1. India: Women’s Asia Cup 2004 Winner

Let’s take a walk down memory lane to 2004 when the Women’s Asia Cup, one of the top-notch cricket tournaments for women, first saw the light of day. Think of it as the Olympics for Asian women’s cricket, and yeah, it’s a big deal! So this grand cricket party kicked off in Sri Lanka at two iconic cricket playgrounds, the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground and the Kandy Cricket Club. Fast forward to the final showdown, Sri Lanka won the coin toss and decided to field first. India, armed with their cricketing prowess, set a solid 178-run mountain for Sri Lanka to climb. With the scoreboard reading 178/5 in 50 overs, India had played their part. Now, Sri Lanka came in to bat but boy, they struggled! The wickets kept tumbling, and in the end, they only managed 84 runs in 45.2 overs. India, with a smashing 94-run win, became the first-ever queens of the Women’s Asia Cup. Talk about setting the bar high!

2. India: Women’s Asia Cup 2005-06 Winner

Picture this, Karachi, Pakistan, in late 2005, the 2nd Women’s Asia Cup is in full swing. It was India versus Sri Lanka, and the atmosphere was electrifying. India won the toss, chose to bat first, and set a whopping 269-run target. Sri Lanka had their work cut out, but they fell short, managing only 172 runs. The Indian bowlers were on fire, restricting Sri Lanka from even coming close. But the star of the match was Mithali Raj. She was just unstoppable, scoring a mind-blowing 108 runs, not out. And yeah, she was rightfully crowned the player of the match. India had done it again, winning by a clear 97 runs. Back-to-back champions!

3. India: Women’s Asia Cup 2006 Winner

December 2006, the action shifted to India for the 3rd Women’s Asia Cup. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur was buzzing with excitement as India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan battled it out. The final saw Sri Lanka win the toss and choose to bat, but they couldn’t stand up to India’s bowling strength. After 44.1 overs, Sri Lanka was all out for just 93 runs. Now it was India’s turn to chase, and they made it look easy, cruising to the target in 27.5 overs with just two wickets down. An eight-wicket win and India was the champion again! Three in a row!

4. India: Women’s Asia Cup 2008 Winner

2008 brought the 4th edition of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup, and this time, Sri Lanka was the host. Four fierce teams: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka clashed for the title. After a thrilling group stage, India and Pakistan made it to the final. India crushed Pakistan in the semi-final, winning by a massive 207 runs. In the final, India won the toss and decided to bat first against Sri Lanka. They set a daunting target of 260/7 in 50 overs. Sri Lanka came in to chase but fell drastically short, managing just 83 runs before being bowled out in the 36th over. India won by an enormous margin of 177 runs. Their fourth consecutive win! Asha Rawat was the star of the show, scoring a brilliant 97 runs. The ladies in blue had done it again!

5. India: Women’s Asia Cup 2012 Winner

The fifth round of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup in 2012 was a special one, as it was the first time the tournament took place in a Twenty20 format. Guangzhou, China, played host from the 24th to the 31st of October, with eight teams making a play for the trophy, including first-timers Thailand, China, Nepal, and Hong Kong. Things took an unexpected turn when the heavens opened up, washing out a semi-final match. With no ball bowled, the Indian Women’s team managed to sneak into the final due to their superior points tally in the group stage. The final was a thriller, pitting rivals India and Pakistan against each other. Winning the toss, India chose to bat first and managed to rack up 81 runs in their 20 overs. The true heroes of the day, however, were the Indian bowlers, whose exceptional skill and precision contained Pakistan’s innings, leading to an 18-run win for India. The switch to the Twenty20 format made the 2012 Asia Cup an exciting affair, but it was India’s stellar performance with both bat and ball that stole the show, earning them the trophy.

6. India: Women’s Asia Cup 2016 Winner

2016 saw the sixth edition of the Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup, with the competition taking place in Thailand from November 26 to December 4. Six nations, including Nepal and Thailand who earned their spots via the Women’s World Cup Asia Qualifier, showcased their prowess in this 20-over tournament. India locked horns with Nepal in the semi-finals, taking the match by a whopping 99 runs, thanks largely to their clever bowling tactics. The final saw India once again choosing to bat first after winning the toss. They set a challenging total of 121/5 in 20 overs. Pakistan tried their best to chase the target, but India’s strong bowling attack limited them to 104 runs. India’s 17-run win sealed their hold on the Women’s Cricket Asia Cup title, highlighting their remarkable teamwork and strategic execution.

7. Bangladesh: Women’s Asia Cup 2018 Winner

The 2018 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup, taking place in Malaysia from June 3 to June 10, was the seventh edition of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup. The 20-over format saw teams from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Thailand battling it out for the title. The final was a face-off between India and Bangladesh, both earning their spots after intense group matches. India had made it to the Asia Cup final seven times in a row, an impressive feat. Bangladesh, on the other hand, was entering the final for the first time. Winning the toss, Bangladesh decided to field first. India managed to score 112 runs in their 20 overs. However, Bangladesh, showing great grit and determination, chased down the target, securing their first-ever Asia Cup title. This historic win marked Bangladesh as the second team, after India, to hoist the prestigious Asia Cup.

8. India: Women’s Asia Cup 2022 Winner

The latest 2022 Women’s T20 Asia Cup, held in Sylhet, Bangladesh, from 1 to 15 October, was a spectacle filled with memorable moments. Seven teams, including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, competed fiercely for the trophy. One standout performance was Thailand’s maiden WT20I win over Pakistan, marking their arrival on the women’s cricket scene. A rain-soaked match between Bangladesh and the UAE worked in their favor, catapulting Thailand into the semi-finals. Here, they came up against a formidable Indian side. Despite their valiant efforts, India clinched the match, winning by a hefty 74 runs and securing their place in the final. The decisive match saw Sri Lanka winning the toss and choosing to bat first, but they struggled to get going against India’s skilled bowling attack, managing only 65 runs in their 20 overs. India wasted no time chasing down the target, losing just two wickets and sealing the win in less than 10 overs. This eight-wicket victory was a testament to India’s batting strength and overall dominance, marking their triumphant return as the champions of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup.

Conclusion

All in all, the women’s cricket scene has seen a seismic shift since the early editions of the Women’s Cricket Asia Cup. This change mirrors not just the growth of the sport, but also the changing game-play dynamics and power balance in women’s cricket. Reflecting on the glorious list of past champions, it’s clear as day that the Women’s Cricket Asia Cup has been a canvas for some of the sport’s most unforgettable moments.

Rocky

Passionate sports content writer, Rocky delves into the world of athletics with a keen eye for detail. With a background in journalism, he transforms moments on the field into compelling narratives that resonate with readers.