Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Begins in Dubai: India Eye Eighth Title

By Thetripurapost Desk, Dubai
Aug 28, 2026
151

The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 gets underway in Dubai on August 28, bringing together eight teams for the 10th edition of the continental T20 competition.

The tournament will be played entirely at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with 15 matches scheduled between August 28 and September 13. The eight participating teams have been divided into two groups, with the top two sides from each group moving into the semi-final stage.

India enter the competition as the most successful team in Women’s Asia Cup history, having won the championship seven times. However, the Indian team will be determined to regain the trophy after Sri Lanka defeated them in the 2024 final.

India Begin Campaign Against Thailand

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain.

India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong, China. Their opening match is against Thailand on August 30, followed by a meeting with Hong Kong, China on September 3.

The biggest Group A fixture is scheduled for September 5, when India face Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The match is expected to attract considerable attention given the long-standing rivalry between the two sides.

India vs Pakistan on September 5

The India-Pakistan contest will be one of the major attractions of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 schedule.

Harmanpreet Kaur has acknowledged the exceptional pressure associated with matches against Pakistan, while India will also be looking to regain the continental crown after missing out in the previous edition.

Also Read

BCCI Makes Team India Fitness Tests Tougher After England Tour

India's recent international success has added further expectations around the team, with the squad entering the Asia Cup aiming to maintain its winning momentum.

Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Groups

Group A

India
Pakistan
Thailand
Hong Kong, China

Group B

Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
United Arab Emirates
Indonesia

Defending champions Sri Lanka have been placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh, hosts UAE and Indonesia.

India Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Squad

Harmanpreet Kaur will captain the Indian team, while Smriti Mandhana has been named vice-captain.

India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, G Kamalini, Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud and Pratika Rawal.

Pratika Rawal's inclusion has attracted attention after she was brought into the squad as a replacement for the injured Jemimah Rodrigues.

How the Women’s Asia Cup Has Evolved

The Women's Asia Cup was introduced in 2004 and initially followed the ODI format. The early editions were played as 50-over contests before the tournament moved to T20 cricket in 2012.

The shift to the shorter format has helped establish the competition as an important tournament in the women's international cricket calendar.

India remain the dominant force historically, with seven titles to their name. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are the reigning champions after winning the 2024 edition on home soil.

Sri Lanka Defend Their Title

Sri Lanka enter the 2026 tournament carrying the defending champions' tag. They created history in 2024 by defeating India in the final at Dambulla and securing their first Women's Asia Cup title.

India will now attempt to reclaim the championship, while Sri Lanka will look to become the first team other than India to successfully defend the title.

Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Knockout Stage

The group stage will determine the four semi-finalists. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout round.

The semi-finals are scheduled for September 10 and 11, while the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final will take place on September 13 in Dubai.

With India seeking an eighth championship, Sri Lanka defending their crown and Pakistan, Bangladesh and the other participating teams targeting a place in the knockout stage, the Dubai tournament promises a highly competitive battle for the continental title.

TheTripuraPost – Latest Tripura News & Northeast India Updates:
TheTripuraPost