India Women vs Sri Lanka Women: Preview, Playing XIs & Match Prediction
Asian Games Women's T20 2026 Final | 22nd September 2026 | Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan
The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion as India Women and Sri Lanka Women lock horns in the final of the Asian Games Women's T20 2026. The gold-medal clash is scheduled for 22nd September 2026 at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan, a venue that has witnessed high-quality cricket throughout the knockout phase of the tournament.
Match Overview
This final is a repeat of the last edition's showdown, where India Women lifted the trophy and Sri Lanka Women finished as runners-up. Both teams enter this contest in outstanding touch, having dominated their respective semi-finals, setting the stage for what promises to be an enthralling encounter.
India booked their place in the final with a commanding 114-run victory over Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka reached the gold-medal match after defeating Pakistan by eight wickets in their semi-final.
Semi-Final Performance Recap
India Women
India produced a masterclass in all-round cricket against Bangladesh, electing to bat first and posting a respectable 195/4 in 20 overs.
- Shafali Verma starred with an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls, including nine sixes.
- Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a brisk 40 off 33 balls.
- Smriti Mandhana added a quick 37 off 19 balls.
- The bowling attack was clinical, restricting Bangladesh to 81 all out in 15.4 overs.
- Deepti Sharma (3/7), Nandani Sharma (3/25), and Shree Charani (2/7) shared the wickets.
Sri Lanka Women
Sri Lanka chased down Pakistan's total of 177/4 with ease, reaching the target in just 17.5 overs with eight wickets remaining.
- Chamari Athapaththu was in sublime form, remaining unbeaten on 83 off 50 balls (7 fours and 6 sixes).
- Hasini Perera provided excellent support with 42 off 26 balls.
Key Players to Watch
| Player | Team | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Shafali Verma | India | India's standout batter with 140 runs in two innings, including a sensational century. Also picked up 2 wickets with her offspin. |
| Smriti Mandhana | India | Attacking left-handed opener with rich international experience; scored a brisk 37 in the semi-final. |
| Chamari Athapaththu | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka's batting powerhouse with 146 runs in two innings, including a match-winning 83 against Pakistan. |
| Deepti Sharma | India | Primarily a bowler with 4 wickets so far, including an excellent 3/7 against Bangladesh. Adds depth with the bat. |
Head-to-Head Record
| Team | Matches | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Women | 7 | 2 |
| India Women | 7 | 5 |
India holds a clear upper hand in this rivalry, having won 5 of the 7 total encounters, adding to their psychological edge heading into the final.
Weather & Pitch Report
- Temperature: 15°C
- Weather: Clear Sky
- Pitch Behaviour: Batting-friendly
- Best Suited To: Pace bowling
- Average 1st Innings Score: 164 (with an average of 5 wickets lost)
The batting-friendly surface at Korogi Sports Park is expected to favor the stroke-makers, though pace bowlers may get some early assistance. Teams posting or chasing near the average total of 164 will likely be in contention.
Predicted Playing XIs
Sri Lanka Women
- Imesha Dulani
- Chamari Athapaththu (c)
- Hasini Perera
- Harshitha Samarawickrama
- Kavisha Dilhari
- Hansima Karunaratne
- Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk)
- Mithali Ayodhya
- Kawya Kavindi
- Chamudi Praboda
- Sugandika Kumari
India Women
- Smriti Mandhana
- Shafali Verma
- Gunalan Kamalini
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Bharti Fulmali
- Deepti Sharma
- Shreyanka Patil
- Shree Charani
- Nandani Sharma
- Kranti Gaud
Match Prediction
With a balanced combination of batting firepower, all-round depth, and a bowling attack that recently restricted Bangladesh to a mere 81, India Women are expected to emerge victorious in this gold-medal showdown. While Sri Lanka's aggressive top order led by Chamari Athapaththu poses a serious threat, India's superior head-to-head record and recent momentum make them the favourites.
This is set to be a classic final between two of Asia's strongest women's cricket teams — don't miss it!
