India are set to face defending champions Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 final on September 13, with both unbeaten teams eyeing continental glory. Captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Chamari Athapaththu were high on confidence ahead of the summit clash, with both sides eager to lift the trophy.
Harmanpreet Kaur has backed India to stick to their strengths and avoid doing anything extraordinary in their pursuit of a record-extending fourth T20 Asia Cup title. “Whenever you are playing a match which is so important to win the tournament, that day it is all about just playing on your strength and backing your strength. Rather than trying too many things and thinking of doing something extraordinary, it is all about sticking to your strength, backing yourself and trusting your gut feeling.”
India have dominated Sri Lanka in T20Is, winning 25 of their 31 meetings. However, they will enter the final with painful memories of the 2024 Asia Cup final, when Sri Lanka produced a clinical performance to defeat India on their home soil. Reflecting on the same, Kaur said, “Last time when we played against Sri Lanka, they came up with some really solid plans and solid performances. T20 is all about on a given day who is going to play the best cricket, they are going to win,” she said.
“There is no doubt about any team being stronger or any team being lesser than anyone. It is all about playing good cricket on an important day. Everyone in the team is very important and their contribution means a lot to us. It is good to see that whoever is getting the opportunity, they are coming up with some really solid performances.”
Despite concerns over India’s misfiring middle order, Harmanpreet has continued to back her batters. She has also praised the bowling unit for consistently stepping up and ensuring India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. She said, “Our batting unit came up in difficult situations and still managed to get runs on the board, while whenever we are bowling, our bowlers have come up with some really solid performances.”
Batting concerns have been a talking point for both teams. For Sri Lanka, however, there was an encouraging sign in the semifinal against Pakistan, where their middle order delivered under pressure to power the team into the final. Athapaththu highlighted that performance as a positive ahead of the title. “The way they batted in the middle overs is amazing, they absorbed the pressure. There has been pressure in the middle every time, so it is a really good sign,” she said.
The Sri Lankan captain also reflected on her team’s memorable triumph in the 2024 Asia Cup. That victory made Sri Lanka only the third team, after India (2012, 2014 and 2022) and Bangladesh (2018), to win the T20 Asia Cup. Athapaththu explained how the historic triumph ushered in a new era for Sri Lankan women’s cricket, with greater trust from the board and increased support from fans.
She said, “After winning the last Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, it was really good for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka. The people’s mindset, especially the spectators and the board, everyone realised that our girls are playing really good cricket. So if we win this time, it’s really good for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka as well.”
While Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka will be determined to defend their title and add another chapter to their recent rise, powerhouse India will be looking to reclaim the continental crown after their early exit from the World Cup. A victory would not only restore their Asia Cup supremacy but also provide valuable momentum ahead of the Asian Games.
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