Women's Asia Cup final: India opt to bat vs Sri Lanka in title clash, Gunalan Kamalini replaces Pratika Rawal; Know playing XIs

India won the toss and chose to bat first against Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final at the Dubai International Cricket stadium on September 13. India made one big change to their playing XI as Pratika Rawal has been rested which paved way for Gunalan Kamalini's entry in the title clash.

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Reflecting on her decision after winning her first toss of the tournament, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized the advantage of putting runs on the board in a crucial final to put pressure on the opposition. Downplaying past heartbreaks like the 2024 final, Kaur stressed the importance of staying present, executing strong cricket, and capitalizing on the early batting powerplay rather than fixing on a specific total. She also expressed strong confidence in young Kamalini, praising her natural ability and encouraging her to play with freedom.

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Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu revealed she would have opted to field regardless, trusting her bowling unit's recent strong form to handle the assignment. Aiming to secure a historic title defense for her country, Athapaththu brought back the experienced Vishmi Gunaratne in place of Sanjana Kavindi. She highlighted the initial six overs as the defining phase of the innings, noting that striking early with the ball would be the key to pressuring the Indian top order.

India Women (Playing XI):

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh(w), Gunalan Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma

Sri Lanka Women (Playing XI):

Chamari Athapaththu(c), Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana(w), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Mithali Ayodhya