Seven-time champions India rely on key performers Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma as they prepare to clash with Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final in Dubai.
Seven-time champions India will seek to secure a record-extending eighth title when they face a resilient Sri Lanka team in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday.
India enter the final led by strong individual tournament displays, notably from Shafali Verma, who is the event's top scorer with 168 runs including two half-centuries. Smriti Mandhana has added 154 runs, highlighted by a century, while all-rounder Deepti Sharma is tied as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets alongside Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu. Deepti leads an effective spin attack alongside Shree Charani and Prema Rawat.
Despite being undefeated in the tournament, Harmanpreet Kaur's side will remain cautious of a Sri Lanka team that defeated India by eight wickets in the 2024 final in Dambulla. Athapaththu's side demonstrated their grit in the semifinals against Pakistan, overcoming a 5/2 start to successfully chase 131 behind contributions from Harshitha Samarawickrama (36) and Kavisha Dilhari (33), before Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana completed the win.
India still face key areas of concern heading into the summit clash, particularly around lower-order boundary hitting and sloppy fielding. The team has dropped nine catches across four matches in the tournament, including four dropped chances in their semifinal victory over Bangladesh.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Cricket. Photo courtesy The Hindu Cricket.