India will take on Sri Lanka in the women’s cricket final at the Asian Games in Japan on Tuesday, with the team seeking a second consecutive gold medal in the event.
The contest comes only days after the two sides met in the Asia Cup final. India’s prospects in the title match will be closely linked to the performances of Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Shafali enters the final in outstanding form in knockout matches. She struck her maiden T20I century in Sunday’s semifinal against Bangladesh, finishing unbeaten on 100 from 49 balls with three fours and nine sixes. The innings also took her tally to 104 sixes in women’s T20Is, making her the second Indian batter to reach 100 sixes and the leading Indian in the format.
Across international and franchise T20 knockout matches, Shafali has scored 354 runs in 12 matches and innings at an average of 35.4 and a strike rate of 159.45. Her record includes one century and one fifty, with a highest score of 100 not out.
Mandhana has accumulated 329 runs in 13 innings in T20 knockout matches, averaging 25.3 at a strike rate of 132.12. She has one fifty to her name, with her best score of 87 coming for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in this year’s Women’s Premier League final.
Harmanpreet, who has regularly delivered in important matches for India, has scored 324 runs in 12 matches. She has the most consistent record among the three, with an average of 121.34, two fifties and a top score of 66, made for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals in the 2025 WPL final.
India Women squad
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav.
Sri Lanka Women squad
Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wicketkeeper), Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari, Rashmika Sewwandi, Nimasha Meepage, Sanjana Kavindi and Anushka Sanjeewani.
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