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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named the 15-member squad for the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup 2026, scheduled to take place from late August to mid-September. Stalwart Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the side as captain, with star opening batter Smriti Mandhana serving as her deputy in command. India enters the continental tournament as seven-time champions and will be aiming to reclaim the trophy after losing the 2024 final against Sri Lanka. The national selection committee, chaired by Amita Sharma, opted for squad stability while retaining a balanced core following the team’s recent international fixtures.
India Women Squad For Asia Cup 2026
The national selectors have named a comprehensive squad featuring a strong mix of established performers and emerging talent across departments.
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharati Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Nandini Sharma, Kranti Gaud.
India Aims to Reclaim Continental Dominance After World Cup Exit
India Women remain the most decorated team in Women’s Asia Cup history, having captured the title on seven occasions. After showing strong performances during group stage matches in recent months, the team suffered a minor setback by failing to reach the semifinals of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup following close losses against Australia and South Africa.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her team will view the upcoming continental championship as a vital opportunity to assert their dominance in Asian cricket once again. Sri Lanka currently holds the defending champions tag after defeating India by eight wickets in the 2024 edition final, where skipper Chamari Athapaththu earned the Player of the Tournament award.
With an explosive top order powered by Mandhana and Shafali Verma alongside a skilled bowling group led by Deepti Sharma and Renuka Thakur, India enters the competition as strong favorites to bring home an eighth Asia Cup trophy.