Two years after Sri Lanka shattered India’s title hopes in the 2024 Women’s T20 Asia Cup final, the two sides meet again in the championship clash in Dubai on Sunday, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s team aiming to settle the score and reclaim the continental crown.
India have remained unbeaten in the tournament and enter the final with considerable momentum, while defending champions Sri Lanka have once again shown their resilience. For India, victory would bring an eighth continental title across the two white-ball formats, including their third T20 Asia Cup crown.
Shafali Verma leads India’s batting charge
One of India’s biggest positives has been the form of opener Shafali Verma.
The aggressive batter has scored 168 runs in four matches at a remarkable strike rate of 169.69, including two innings of 64. Her attacking starts have given India an early advantage throughout the tournament.
Smriti Mandhana has also contributed 154 runs at a strike rate of 171.11, although her campaign has been inconsistent. She has produced a century but also two single-digit scores.
With the final likely to demand a strong start, India’s opening combination could once again prove crucial.
India’s spin attack holds the key
Conditions in Dubai are expected to bring the spinners into the contest, an area where India possess considerable strength.
Deepti Sharma has been central to India’s campaign and is among the tournament’s joint-leading wicket-takers with 11 scalps, alongside Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu.
Deepti has also contributed with the bat, including a useful six-ball 13 in the semi-final against Bangladesh.
Left-arm spinner Shree Charani and the improving Prema Rawat, alongside Deepti, give India a varied spin attack suited to the Dubai conditions.
However, Sri Lanka’s own slow-bowling unit has been equally difficult to score against. Their left-arm spinners have maintained an economy rate of around 4.3 runs per over, setting up an intriguing battle against India’s predominantly right-handed batting line-up.
Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit a major threat
Sri Lanka demonstrated their ability to fight back in the semi-final against Pakistan.
After slipping to 5/2 inside two overs and then 33/4 in the seventh, Sri Lanka recovered to chase down 131. Harshitha Samarawickrama’s 36 and Kavisha Dilhari’s 33 steadied the innings before Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana held their nerve during a tense finish.
Athapaththu remains central to Sri Lanka’s challenge. Her contributions with both bat and ball, combined with her leadership and big-match experience, could again prove decisive.
India seeking redemption for 2024 final defeat
The last time these two teams met in an Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka produced a memorable chase.
India posted 165/6 in the 2024 final in Dambulla, but Sri Lanka chased down the target comfortably to win by eight wickets. Athapaththu and Harshitha scored half-centuries as Sri Lanka secured their maiden Women’s T20 Asia Cup title.
India have since dominated their recent T20I meetings. They swept the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at home in December 2025 and have won nine of their last 10 T20Is against them.
The only defeat in that run came in the Asia Cup final.
Now, India arrive in Dubai with the firepower and confidence to reclaim the trophy, while Sri Lanka carry the belief of defending champions and the memory of having already beaten India when it mattered most.
