India’s batting trio of Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur will be pivotal in the women’s cricket final against Sri Lanka at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as India seeks a second consecutive gold medal.
The match takes place on Tuesday, just days after the two teams contested the Asia Cup title.
Shafali Verma has been in impressive form during knockout matches since her 87 runs against South Africa in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup at home in 2025. She scored her maiden T20 International century in the semifinals against Bangladesh on Sunday, reaching 100 not out off 49 balls, including three fours and nine sixes.
Verma also became the second Indian woman to hit 100 sixes in T20 Internationals, now holding a total of 104 sixes, the highest by an Indian batter.
In T20 knockout matches across international and franchise cricket, Verma has amassed 354 runs in 12 innings at an average of 35.4 and a strike rate of 159.45, with one century and one half-century. Her highest score in these games is 100 not out.
Smriti Mandhana has compiled 329 runs in 13 T20 knockout innings at an average of 25.3 and a strike rate of 132.12, including one half-century. Her top score is 87, achieved in the 2026 Women’s Premier League final for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian team, has the most consistent record with 324 runs in 12 matches at an exceptional average of 121.34. She has scored two half-centuries, with a best of 66 for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals in the 2025 Women’s Premier League final.
The Indian squad comprises Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav.
The Sri Lanka team includes Imesha Dulani, captain Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, wicketkeeper Kaushani Nuthyangana, Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari, Rashmika Sewwandi, Nimasha Meepage, Sanjana Kavindi and Anushka Sanjeewani.