This is just the fourth edition of the Asian Games which has featured cricket, after seeing the sport make its debut in 2010. Hence, one can understand the importance and attachment, given that we see this event roughly only once every 4 years. It is no less than a feeling of a World Cup, but these days, we have a World Cup almost every year. Does not mean that its importance has come down, but the Asian Games definitely sit at a higher place.
To be brutally honest, when it comes to Asian cricket in the women’s sport, only India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been competitive over the years, and eventually, it comes down to a clash between India and the winner between Sri Lanka and Pakistan for the final spot. This time too, it has been no different. India Women have been on a 7-match winning streak in T20Is, which also includes their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup in Dubai, which saw them beat Sri Lanka in the final there too. An 8th successive win would mean that India will pocket two tournaments in the span of roughly 3 weeks.
Batting or bowling – there is hardly any weakness one can find in the Indian side. Mandhana, Shafali, skipper Harman, Richa and Deepti handle the batting responsibilities comfortably. Delving further, Shafali has registered scores of 40 or more in each of her last 4 innings, which includes a century and 2 half-centuries. If she gets going, the game is decided more or less in the Powerplay itself.
The bowling looks well-rounded for India too, through the pace of Kranti and Nandni and the spin of Charani, Shreyanka and Deepti again. The defending champions look a well-rounded unit but the fielding requires a fair bit of attention. That department hurt the Indians during the 2026 World Cup considerably.
This match serves as another revenge-seeking opportunity for Sri Lanka. Besides the recent Asia Cup fixture, the two teams had met in the 2023 Asian Games final as well, with the Lankan batters spoiling the good work done by their bowlers, unable to chase down a modest target of 117. The unit does have names, and some have been doing well recently too – but no name is bigger than skipper Chamari Athapaththu. The Lankan tigress has registered 20 scores in excess of 50 in T20Is, but has been on the losing end just thrice. So, her importance is pretty evident, and if she has her day, the Indians will have their work cut out.
In the last 11 encounters, Sri Lanka Women have got the better of India Women only once - the 2024 Asia Cup final. Sometimes, the occasion can get to the players, and the side that treats this more like a normal cricket game would be able to keep its nerves better.
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