The Indian women's cricket team led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur has officially arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to compete in the upcoming ACC Women's Asia Cup 2026. Aiming to recapture the continental title after a disappointing finish in the previous edition, the squad landed in the Gulf city prepared for an intensive T20 tournament. The 2026 edition of the Women's Asia Cup is scheduled to commence on August 28, featuring eight top Asian teams competing for glory across fifteen high-octane matches.
Group Configurations and Key Fixtures Schedule
The eight participating nations have been split into two distinct groups for the initial phase of the tournament. India features in Group A alongside rivals Pakistan, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, defending champions Sri Lanka head Group B, which also comprises Bangladesh, Indonesia, and host country UAE. India will begin their tournament campaign on August 30 against Thailand, followed by an encounter with Hong Kong on September 3. The most anticipated clash of the group stage will take place on September 5, when India takes on traditional rivals Pakistan in their first T20 meeting since the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
Following the conclusion of the group stage matches, the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout round. The two semifinal fixtures are scheduled for September 10 and September 11, while the championship final will take place on September 13. Marking a historic milestone for Asian women's cricket, this edition represents the very first time that Dubai is hosting the Women's T20 Asia Cup, with all fifteen matches being held within the city.
Redemption Quest and Historical Dominance
India enters the 2026 tournament carrying both historical pedigree and a strong desire for redemption. Historically, the Indian women's team has been the most dominant side in Asia Cup history, having secured the T20 title three times across the five previous T20 editions. However, their campaign in 2024 ended in heartbreak when Sri Lanka defeated them in the final on home soil in Sri Lanka. Under Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership, the squad is determined to overturn that setback and bring the trophy back to India.
Celebrating the team's arrival in the UAE, the national governing body posted a short video clip of the players landing at the airport, which BCCI Women shared on X with a greeting welcoming the team to Dubai for the Asian championship.
Complete 15-Player Squad Breakdown
The selection panel has named a balanced fifteen-player squad combining experienced campaigners and dynamic young talent for the tournament
- Harmanpreet Kaur: Captain
- Smriti Mandhana: Vice Captain
- Shafali Verma: Batter
- Bharti Fulmali: Batter
- Deepti Sharma: All-rounder
- Richa Ghosh: Wicketkeeper
- G Kamalini: Wicketkeeper
- Arundhati Reddy: Bowler
- Prema Rawat: All-rounder
- Radha Yadav: Bowler
- Shree Charani: Bowler
- Renuka Thakur: Bowler
- Nandini Sharma: All-rounder
- Kranti Gaur: Player
- Pratika Rawal: Player
