Dubai, September 13 (Daily Kiran) : In the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, India is set to face Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first.
After the toss, Kaur expressed the importance of the match, stating, “We will bat first. This is a crucial game for us, and we need to set a good score on the board. Every final is important and comes with pressure, but we aim to play well.” She also announced a change in the lineup, noting that wicketkeeper-batsman Kamalini has replaced Pratika, who has struggled throughout the tournament.
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, commenting on losing the toss, said, “We wanted to bowl first. As a nation, we need to keep improving and play positive cricket.” She also mentioned a team change, with Vishmi Gunaratne stepping in for Sanjana Kavindi to bring in more experience. Athapaththu highlighted the significance of the first six overs against a strong Indian batting lineup.
India has performed impressively in the tournament, remaining unbeaten under Kaur’s leadership. Key players include Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, with Shafali scoring 168 runs at a strike rate of 169 across four matches, while Mandhana has accumulated 154 runs, including a century. On the bowling front, Deepti Sharma has taken 11 wickets, and Shree Charani has claimed 8.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka showcased strong performance in the semi-finals against Pakistan. They had previously defeated India in the last Asia Cup final to clinch the title. Athapaththu has been a standout performer with both bat and ball, and Harshitha Samarawickrama has also significantly contributed with the bat, while Chamudi Prabodha has excelled in bowling.
India’s playing eleven includes: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Gunalan Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, and Nandini Sharma.
Sri Lanka’s lineup features: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Pereira, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Neelakshika Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangna (wicketkeeper), Sugandhika Kumari, Chamudi Prabodha, and Mithali Ayodhya.
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