India captain Harmanpreet Kaur called it right at the toss and decided to bat first in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The two unbeaten sides in the tournament will lock horns in a rematch of the 2024 final, which Sri Lanka won. India are chasing a record-extending eighth title, while Chamari Athapaththu’s side look to defend their crown.
Harmanpreet explained the decision simply: they wanted a score on the board in such a big match. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu admitted her side would have preferred to bowl first. Both captains got what they wanted.
India Playing XI
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, G Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma.
India made one change. Young wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini comes in for Pratika Rawal, who has been rested after a quiet tournament. It is a bold call in a final.
Sri Lanka Playing XI
Chamari Athapaththu (c), Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Mithali Ayodhya.
Sri Lanka also made one change, bringing in experienced batter Vishmi Gunaratne in place of Sanjana Kavindi.
The Dubai pitch has assisted spinners throughout the tournament, and both sides possess strong spin attacks. India will look to post a competitive total of 150-plus, a score that has proven challenging to chase here.
Shafali Verma has been the tournament’s leading run-scorer, while Deepti Sharma has been among the top wicket-takers. For Sri Lanka, captain Chamari Athapaththu remains the key all-round threat.
India have won 25 of 31 T20Is against Sri Lanka, but the last final went the other way. Tonight in Dubai, that record will be tested once more.
