Key Highlights:
- India and Sri Lanka, both unbeaten, meet in Sunday's Women's T20 Asia Cup final at Dubai International Stadium.
- Shafali Verma (168 runs) and Deepti Sharma (11 wickets) have been India's standout performers this tournament.
- Sri Lanka staged a stunning semifinal fightback against Pakistan, recovering from 33/4 to win the chase.
- India have dropped nine catches across four matches, a concern heading into the final.
- The match starts at 8:00 PM IST on September 13, broadcast on Sony Sports Network and streamed on Sony LIV.
A Final Between Two Unbeaten Sides
India's pursuit of an eighth Women's T20 Asia Cup title will face a serious test on Sunday when the unbeaten hosts meet an equally unbeaten Sri Lanka in the tournament final at Dubai International Stadium. Both sides arrive at the summit clash having navigated the tournament without a loss, setting up a contest between India's batting depth and spin resources against Sri Lanka's proven ability to fight back from difficult positions.
India's Key Performers
Shafali Verma has been India's standout batter through the tournament, scoring 168 runs to top the run charts, with two half-centuries underlining her consistency at the top of the order. Her ability to perform in difficult batting conditions has been particularly valuable for India across the competition. Smriti Mandhana has contributed 154 runs including a century, though her two low scores in the tournament point to an inconsistency that India will want to address in the final, especially given that the middle order has similarly struggled to convert starts into substantial totals, with boundary-hitting also lacking consistency across matches.
Deepti Sharma has been central to India's control with the ball, taking 11 wickets to sit joint-top of the wicket-taking charts alongside Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu. She has also chipped in with useful contributions with the bat, including a rapid 13 off six deliveries in the semifinal against Bangladesh that helped India close out their innings strongly.
Sri Lanka's Semifinal Fightback
Sri Lanka head into the final with considerable momentum after their dramatic semifinal recovery against Pakistan. Chasing 131, they slipped to 33 for four before Harshitha Samarawickrama's 36 and Kavisha Dilhari's 33 steadied the innings, setting up Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana to complete the chase. That fightback is a reminder of Sri Lanka's tournament-defining trait: an ability to recover from precarious positions rather than fold under pressure.
A History That Favours Caution for India
India's preparation for this final carries an added psychological dimension given recent history in this exact fixture. In the 2024 final, Athapaththu and Harshitha were instrumental in inflicting an eight-wicket defeat on India, with both batters scoring half-centuries in that match. With both players once again central to Sri Lanka's campaign this year, India will be conscious of avoiding a repeat of that scoreline.
India's Fielding Concern
Beyond batting consistency, India's fielding has emerged as a notable area for concern heading into the final. The side has dropped nine catches across their four matches this tournament, two against Thailand, three against Pakistan, and four in the semifinal against Bangladesh. Against a Sri Lankan side that has already shown its capacity to capitalise on pressure moments and recover from setbacks, further fielding lapses in the final could prove significantly more costly than they have earlier in the tournament.
What the Final Comes Down To
The summit clash effectively pits India's tournament-leading batting performances and reliable spin bowling against a Sri Lankan unit whose defining quality throughout the competition has been its refusal to surrender under pressure, a contrast in strengths that could shape how the final's momentum swings across its course.
Match Details
When: Sunday, September 13, 8:00 PM IST
Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Where to watch: The match will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on the Sony LIV app and website.
Squads
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Gunalan Kamalini (wk), Pratika Rawal, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Radha Yadav
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama (vc), Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Sanjana Kavindi, Hasini Perera, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Nimasha Meepage, Chamudi Praboda, Chethana Vimukhti
Key Highlights:
- India and Sri Lanka, both unbeaten, meet in Sunday's Women's T20 Asia Cup final at Dubai International Stadium.
- Shafali Verma (168 runs) and Deepti Sharma (11 wickets) have been India's standout performers this tournament.
- Sri Lanka staged a stunning semifinal fightback against Pakistan, recovering from 33/4 to win the chase.
- India have dropped nine catches across four matches, a concern heading into the final.
- The match starts at 8:00 PM IST on September 13, broadcast on Sony Sports Network and streamed on Sony LIV.
A Final Between Two Unbeaten Sides
India's pursuit of an eighth Women's T20 Asia Cup title will face a serious test on Sunday when the unbeaten hosts meet an equally unbeaten Sri Lanka in the tournament final at Dubai International Stadium. Both sides arrive at the summit clash having navigated the tournament without a loss, setting up a contest between India's batting depth and spin resources against Sri Lanka's proven ability to fight back from difficult positions.
India's Key Performers
Shafali Verma has been India's standout batter through the tournament, scoring 168 runs to top the run charts, with two half-centuries underlining her consistency at the top of the order. Her ability to perform in difficult batting conditions has been particularly valuable for India across the competition. Smriti Mandhana has contributed 154 runs including a century, though her two low scores in the tournament point to an inconsistency that India will want to address in the final, especially given that the middle order has similarly struggled to convert starts into substantial totals, with boundary-hitting also lacking consistency across matches.
Deepti Sharma has been central to India's control with the ball, taking 11 wickets to sit joint-top of the wicket-taking charts alongside Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu. She has also chipped in with useful contributions with the bat, including a rapid 13 off six deliveries in the semifinal against Bangladesh that helped India close out their innings strongly.
Sri Lanka's Semifinal Fightback
Sri Lanka head into the final with considerable momentum after their dramatic semifinal recovery against Pakistan. Chasing 131, they slipped to 33 for four before Harshitha Samarawickrama's 36 and Kavisha Dilhari's 33 steadied the innings, setting up Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana to complete the chase. That fightback is a reminder of Sri Lanka's tournament-defining trait: an ability to recover from precarious positions rather than fold under pressure.
A History That Favours Caution for India
India's preparation for this final carries an added psychological dimension given recent history in this exact fixture. In the 2024 final, Athapaththu and Harshitha were instrumental in inflicting an eight-wicket defeat on India, with both batters scoring half-centuries in that match. With both players once again central to Sri Lanka's campaign this year, India will be conscious of avoiding a repeat of that scoreline.
India's Fielding Concern
Beyond batting consistency, India's fielding has emerged as a notable area for concern heading into the final. The side has dropped nine catches across their four matches this tournament, two against Thailand, three against Pakistan, and four in the semifinal against Bangladesh. Against a Sri Lankan side that has already shown its capacity to capitalise on pressure moments and recover from setbacks, further fielding lapses in the final could prove significantly more costly than they have earlier in the tournament.
What the Final Comes Down To
The summit clash effectively pits India's tournament-leading batting performances and reliable spin bowling against a Sri Lankan unit whose defining quality throughout the competition has been its refusal to surrender under pressure, a contrast in strengths that could shape how the final's momentum swings across its course.
Match Details
When: Sunday, September 13, 8:00 PM IST
Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Where to watch: The match will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on the Sony LIV app and website.
Squads
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Gunalan Kamalini (wk), Pratika Rawal, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Radha Yadav
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama (vc), Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Sanjana Kavindi, Hasini Perera, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Nimasha Meepage, Chamudi Praboda, Chethana Vimukhti