Former India captain Anjum Chopra has called on the Indian women's team to make winning the Women's Asia Cup their primary objective, while simultaneously using the tournament as a strategic launchpad for the ICC Women's Champions Trophy in February. Speaking exclusively on 26 August, Chopra said the two goals are not mutually exclusive — but the title must come first.

The Asia Cup Mandate

India, seven-time winners of the Women's Asia Cup, suffered a final defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2024 edition at Dambulla. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side opens their Group A campaign on 30 August against Thailand, before facing Hong Kong China and arch-rivals Pakistan. The defeat last time, combined with back-to-back early exits from the T20 World Cup, has sharpened the urgency around this edition.

'The outlook is obviously going to be to win the title, because they missed the chance of winning it last time around,' Chopra said. 'Sri Lanka played really well in the last final — in fact, they played the entire tournament very well. That's why I was surprised when they landed at the T20 World Cup in the UAE and were completely all over the place.'

Champions Trophy in the Frame

Chopra was clear that the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy, scheduled for February in Sri Lanka, is already shaping the team management's thinking. India's squad for the Asia Cup is largely unchanged from the 2026 T20 World Cup group, barring the omission of Yastika Bhatia and injuries to Jemimah Rodrigues and Shreyanka Patil. The team will play at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

'Lining up towards the ICC Champions Trophy in February, they would also want to understand their combination and how that setup — which hasn't changed much from the World Cup in England — will move in the direction of the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka,' Chopra said.

Concerns Over Squad Selection and Player Continuity

Chopra was candid about what she sees as a persistent failure to give fringe players a consistent run. She specifically named Bharti Fulmali and Renuka Singh Thakur as players who have been handled inconsistently by the selectors.

'It's unfair to them that the Indian team hasn't given those opportunities on a consistent basis. I say that very openly for Bharti Fulmali, who hasn't gotten a consistent run, and for Renuka Singh Thakur, who hasn't been a regular feature in the playing eleven,' she said. Chopra argued that the Asia Cup and Asian Games were the ideal windows to test such players, and that the opportunity has been partly squandered.

She also flagged a specific selection call — bringing in a player to bat at number three who, in her assessment, is 'nowhere around the T20 circuit'. 'If the thinking is just to fill a spot, that's surprising,' she said.

India 'A' as a Fitness and Form Barometer

Drawing comparisons with Australia, Chopra urged the current administration to use India 'A' fixtures as a strict measure of readiness. She cited how Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath played all matches during Australia's India 'A' tour in 2025 to prove fitness and form respectively.

'For us, players who are not performing well in the main Indian team should be asked to go back and play for India 'A' to prove their fitness and form as well,' Chopra said. She noted that players like Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani had seized their opportunities and cemented their places, but a vacuum persists in key positions.

What Needs to Change Before the Champions Trophy

Chopra's overarching message was one of clarity — for selectors, the captain, the vice-captain, and the players themselves. 'What is it that we were lacking in the recent tournament and what are we trying to strengthen or build so that all of it is there when we get to the Champions Trophy?' she asked. With a tour to South Africa, a home series against Zimbabwe in October, and a WPL season all scheduled before the Champions Trophy, she argued there is enough competitive cricket to make informed decisions — but only if the team management acts with intent. India's campaign begins on 30 August, and Chopra said she will be watching closely to see whether the first match signals a shift in approach.