Dubai, September 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India made their first change of the tournament, bringing in G Kamalini for Pratika Rawal. The final marks Kamalini’s first appearance in the ongoing Asia Cup and only her second T20I for India.
Both teams have remained unbeaten in the tournament, although India have been considerably more dominant across departments. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have led the scoring, while Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani have made a major impact with the ball, claiming 11 and eight wickets respectively.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency with the bat. Captain Chamari Athapaththu has managed just 63 runs from four innings, while the team’s top order has yet to find its best form.
India are chasing a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title, having won four editions in the ODI format and three in T20Is.
The Women in Blue also have a strong recent record against Sri Lanka, winning nine of their last 10 T20Is. Their only defeat during that period came in the 2024 Asia Cup final in Dambulla. India also swept Sri Lanka 5-0 in a T20I series last December.
Explaining the decision to bat first, Kaur said having runs on the board would be an advantage in a high-pressure final. She added that India would focus on making the most of the batting powerplay rather than setting a specific target.
Sri Lanka also made one change, with Vishmi Gunaratne replacing Sanjana Kavindi. Athapaththu said her team would look to take early wickets and build pressure on India.
Playing XIs
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wicketkeeper), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Mithali Ayodhya.
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Gunalan Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma.
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