IND vs SL Women’s Asian Cup Final: Rematch for continental supremacy
Two years after Sri Lanka stunned India to win their maiden Women’s Asia Cup, the two sides will meet again in the final for the continental crown on Sunday in Dubai.
The return match gives India a chance to reclaim the trophy they lost in Dambulla in 2024 when Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama hit half-centuries to power Sri Lanka to an emphatic eight-wicket victory.
Watch DP World Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Final – India vs Sri Lanka on 13 September 2026 from 20:00 IST Live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) & Sony LIV.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s team was the best team of the tournament, going unbeaten on the way to the final and aiming for an eighth Asia Cup title. Sri Lanka also remained unbeaten and will draw confidence from the knowledge that they have already beaten India at this stage. India aim for 8th Women’s Asia Cup. (PTI photo)
The final in 2024 remains a clear reference point, but India will arrive this time with Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma in excellent form, while Sri Lanka once again showed the resilience that led them to the title two years ago.
But Harmanpreet doesn’t want her team to overcomplicate the occasion. With the title at stake, the Indian skipper believes the key is to trust what has worked during the tournament.
“Rather than trying too many things and thinking about doing something extraordinary, it’s all about sticking to your strength, backing yourself and trusting your gut feeling,” Harmanpreet said on the eve of the final.
INDIA’S BIGGEST WEAPON?
India were led by Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma during their unbeaten campaign.
Shafali is the top scorer of the tournament with 168 runs, including two fifties. She was also India’s most consistent batsman on Dubai’s slow, spin-friendly surfaces and found a fluidity that others struggled to match.
Smriti Mandhana produced a century against Hong Kong but also posted two single-figure scores, so Shafali’s consistency is especially valuable at the top.
Meanwhile, Deepti shares the tournament’s wicket-taking lead with Sri Lanka captain Athapaththa, with both taking 11 wickets. She also contributed with the bat, hitting 13 off six balls against Bangladesh in the semi-final to help India push their total to nearly 150.
With Shree Charani providing control and Prema Rawat finding his rhythm, India’s spin attack has been one of their biggest strengths.
However, their location remains a problem. India lost four catches in the semi-final against Bangladesh, including two from Pratika Rawal. They also took three against Pakistan and two against Thailand, taking their tally to nine wickets in four matches.
Harmanpreet knows India will have to be sharper if they are to overcome a Sri Lankan side that has already shown they can punish mistakes.
“We saw that whenever we try to do something special or something extraordinary, we always make so many mistakes,” she said.
“Tomorrow’s game is about confidence and trying to make less mistakes on the field. The team that makes less mistakes in an important game has more chances to win.”
SRI LANKA’S CHANCE
Sri Lanka have shown throughout the tournament that they are capable of surviving tough situations.
In their semi-final against Pakistan, they slumped from 5/2 to 33/4 while chasing 131, but Harshitha Samarawickrama’s 36 and Kavisha Dilhari’s 33 innings stood before Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana completed the chase.
Athapaththu was also a key contributor, leading the tournament’s wicket-taking charts along with Deepti with 11 wickets.
Sri Lanka will have another psychological advantage from the 2024 final. Chasing 165 in Dambulla, Athapaththu and Harshitha both hit half-centuries as Sri Lanka won by eight wickets to clinch their maiden Asia Cup title.
Most of the players from that final are back for another showdown, adding another layer to Sunday’s contest. India will be determined to prevent a repeat, while Sri Lanka will believe their previous success proves they can handle the pressure in the final against the favourites.
Athapaththu will once again be at the heart of Sri Lanka’s hopes, but Harmanpreet has made it clear that India will not allow their plans to revolve around one player.
“We definitely want to take her wicket as soon as possible because we know how dangerous she is when she’s batting. We want to come up with some solid plans against her, not only against her but against all batsmen,” she said.
REPORT ON THE DUBAI PLAYGROUND
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium offers slow and spin-friendly conditions during the tournament, making batting challenging for most teams.
Indian batsmen have been the most consistent in posting sizeable totals, but even they have not always found it easy to score freely.
Harmanpreet believes patience will be important for the batsmen, especially at the start of their innings.
“You really have to spend some time and then you can go for your shot. Whoever is balanced, that person has to take responsibility and play until the end,” she said.
So the battle between the two spin attacks could turn out to be decisive, with India relying on Deepti, Shree Charani and Prema Rawat to control the middle overs.
INDIA VS SRI LANKA: HEAD TO HEAD
India dominated the overall T20I rivalry, winning 25 of the 31 matches played between the two sides. Sri Lanka have managed five wins, with their last coming in the final of this competition in 2024.
India won the 2022 Asia Cup final, but Sri Lanka responded two years later with their eight-wicket triumph in Dambulla.
Sunday’s final will be the third consecutive Asian Cup final between the two teams. The totals favor India, but Sri Lanka have shown they can perform at their best when the stakes are highest.
When is India vs Sri Lanka Women’s Asia Cup Final?
The final will be played on Sunday 13 September 2026.
What time does India vs Sri Lanka women’s Asia Cup final start?
The match will start at 20:00 IST.
Where will India vs Sri Lanka Women’s Asia Cup final be played?
The final will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.
Where can I watch India vs Sri Lanka Women’s Asia Cup Final live on TV?
The match will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network in India.
Where can I stream India vs Sri Lanka Women’s Asia Cup Final live online?
Fans can watch the match live on SonyLIV.
IND-W vs SL-W: PREDICTED XI
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (C), Imesha Dulani, Sanjana Kavindi, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (WK), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Mithali Ayodhya
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
13 Sep 2026 09:19 IST