India return to the Women’s Asia Cup with more than history on their side. They arrive in Dubai as the most successful side in the competition, fresh from a period of sustained success in international cricket, and with a clear objective: reclaim the trophy that slipped away to Sri Lanka in 2024. The 10th edition of the Women’s Asia Cup begins on August 28 in the UAE, with India opening their campaign against Thailand on August 30. The tournament will be played in the T20I format, with eight teams divided into two groups.
India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, China and Thailand form Group A, while defending champions Sri Lanka are grouped with Bangladesh, Indonesia and hosts UAE in Group B. For Harmanpreet Kaur’s side, however, this is not simply another continental assignment. India have won the Asia Cup seven times and dominated the tournament for much of its history. They won the first six editions before Bangladesh ended that run in 2018. Sri Lanka then produced a landmark triumph in 2024, defeating India on home soil to claim their maiden title.
Now India have a chance to restore their position at the top. Harmanpreet will lead the side once again, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain. The squad blends established international names with younger players who have increasingly become important parts of India’s T20 setup. Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Thakur, Radha Yadav and Sree Charani give the team experience across departments, while players such as Bharti Fulmali, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma and Pratika Rawal add depth.
Yet India’s preparations have not been entirely smooth. Jemimah Rodrigues, one of the most important batters in India’s middle order, will miss the tournament after suffering a high-grade hamstring tear while playing for Southern Brave in The Hundred. The injury also ruled her out of India’s Asian Games campaign. Rodrigues has 131 T20I caps and is India’s fourth-highest run scorer in the format, making her absence a significant blow.
Pratika Rawal has been named as her replacement. That development places greater responsibility on India’s established batting core. Mandhana’s ability to set the tempo at the top, Shafali’s power and Harmanpreet’s experience in the middle order will be central to India’s campaign. Deepti, meanwhile, remains a crucial all-round option who can influence matches with both bat and ball.
India’s recent form provides further reason for confidence. The team enters the Asian challenge after winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025 and producing strong results across formats. Harmanpreet herself has pointed to the team’s progress over recent years. “The last 4-5 years have been good, and where we have played good cricket, dominating cricket, have defeated big sides and won series also,” Kaur told Sony Sports. The immediate task, however, is to navigate Group A without allowing complacency to creep in.
Thailand will provide the opening challenge on August 30, followed by Hong Kong, China on September 3. The headline fixture arrives on September 5 when India meet Pakistan, a contest that will attract attention well beyond the tournament standings. Pakistan are led by Fatima Sana and have named a squad featuring Muneeba Ali, Gull Feroza, Tuba Hassan and Sadia Iqbal among others. The format leaves little room for error. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for September 10 and 11, before the final on September 13.
For India, the broader challenge is to turn dominance on paper into control in the middle. The team has already shown it can win major tournaments. What the Asia Cup demands now is consistency. With the Asian Games following shortly after the tournament, the UAE campaign will also offer an opportunity for India’s players to sharpen their T20 combinations and build momentum for another demanding phase of international cricket.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will enter the competition with the confidence of defending champions. The hosts UAE will also be looking to make an impression on home soil, while Bangladesh and Pakistan remain capable of disrupting the established order. For India, the equation is straightforward. Seven titles have established their legacy. The 2024 defeat changed the narrative. In Dubai, Harmanpreet and her team have the opportunity to change it again.
India’s Women’s Asia Cup 2026 schedule
August 30: India vs Thailand, 8 PM IST
September 3: India vs Hong Kong, China, 8 PM IST
September 5: India vs Pakistan, 8 PM IST
September 10/11: Semi-finals, subject to qualification
September 13: Final, subject to qualification
The tournament will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the opening match scheduled for August 28 and the final on September 13. India begin their campaign on August 30 against Thailand.
