Not unlike their men counterparts, Indian women have seldom been challenged by their Asian rivals. Having won the Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time last week, Harmanpreet Kaur and company have expectedly strolled into the final where they will be favourites to beat Sri Lanka for the gold medal at the Korogi Sports Park on Tuesday.
If India go on to successfully defend their Hangzhou gold medal in Nagoya, it would be nothing more than what is expected of them. But, if they fail to cross the line against a side they beat comprehensively to claim the Asia Cup in Dubai, then plenty of questions will be raised.
While India have been dominant in both the quarterfinal and semifinal, Sri Lanka were no less clinical, and that sets up an interesting contest. Given the strength on paper and history in their corner, India are odds on favourites to retain their gold, but Sri Lanka are capable of springing a surprise.
In the last four years, the India-Sri Lanka rivalry has been lopsided, with the Women in Blue winning 10 out of their last 11 T20I meetings. Lankans, though, will take heart from that one win, which came in the 2024 Asia Cup final. This means the task at hand for the Islanders is tough but not impossible.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar had called for a rethink of their strategy, and since the T20 World Cup debacle, the nature of the surface or opposition has had little say on India’s approach.
Scan the Indian side, and the eyes certainly will land on Shafali Verma, who is fresh off a hundred and is batting like a dream. Shafali, alongside her partner-in-crime Smriti Mandhana, will again look to stamp their class and lay the perfect platform for Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh to take off.
In recent times, India’s middle-order has had a few wobbles, and that could be one thing the Lankans would look to exploit.
Meanwhile, Harmanpreet, despite average returns, has shut down talks of a captaincy change, leading India to a historic Lord’s Test win and continental glory. At 37, she will be gunning to add another Asiad gold to her kitty.
On the flip side, the Indian bowlers have been a stingy bunch, albeit up against not-so-potent batting line-ups. However, the likes of Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma will be key against the class of Chamari Athapaththu, Lanka’s do-it-all cricketer.
If a weakness must be found in India it is that they haven’t been fully tested, and Sri Lanka will be hoping to push them to the brink in the Land of the Rising Sun.