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Dubai, September 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma said the team would not take defending champions Sri Lanka lightly when the two sides meet in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The final marks the third consecutive Asia Cup final between India and Sri Lanka, with both teams having won one of the previous two encounters. Despite India's strong record against Sri Lanka, Deepti stressed that the team would remain focused on its own execution.
“We all know they have a good side and they have good youngsters also coming up in the Asia Cup. So, it's a good team, and whenever we play against them, we have good matches against them,” Deepti told broadcasters before the final.
“Obviously, we'll not take any team lightly, and obviously Sri Lanka. But we always focus on ourselves, how we can do better things, and we'll approach the same thing as we have done before in this Asia Cup,” she added.
Asked about India's plans for the final, Deepti declined to reveal specifics but confirmed that the team had prepared for the contest and had also analyzed Sri Lanka's semifinal against Pakistan.
With middle overs proving important in the tournament, Deepti said India would need to remain switched on throughout the 40 overs.
“All 40 overs decide the game because sometimes in the powerplay, the ball comes really good, but sometimes it doesn't. But we always have to be ready,” she said.
Having already played several matches in Dubai, Deepti added that the Indian team understood the local conditions and how the ball was behaving off the surface.
Deepti has been among India's standout performers with the ball and is the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 wickets, alongside Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu.
India won