Asian Games 2026: India women elect to bat vs Sri Lanka in gold medal final
Synopsis
India Women's cricket team won the toss and elected to bat in the Asian Games 2026 gold medal final against Sri Lanka at Nisshin — a rematch of the 2023 Asiad final and the Women's Asia Cup title clash, both won by India. Shafali Verma, the tournament's first centurion, and Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu, fresh off an unbeaten 83, are the two players who could decide who takes home gold.
Key Takeaways
India Women chose to bat first against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2026 gold medal final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin on 22 September .
Both sides named unchanged playing XIs from their respective semifinals.
Shafali Verma scored the first ever century at the Women's Asian Games in the semifinal against Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu struck an unbeaten 83 off 50 balls in the semifinal against Pakistan.
This is a rematch of the 2023 Asiad final and the Women's Asia Cup final this month, both won by India.
Sri Lanka are two-time Asian Games medallists ( bronze 2014, silver 2022 ) but are yet to win gold.
India Women opted to bat first against Sri Lanka Women in the gold medal clash of the Asian Games cricket event at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on Tuesday, 22 September. The defending champions enter the final with an unchanged playing XI, riding high on momentum after a commanding semifinal victory over Bangladesh.
India's Road to the Final
India, the defending gold medallists from the 2023 Hangzhou Asiad, progressed to the title match by beating Japan in the quarterfinal and Bangladesh in the semifinal. The Women in Blue have been clinical throughout, with both bat and ball performing in tandem.
Leading the batting charge has been opener Shafali Verma, who registered her first white-ball century against Bangladesh in the semifinal — making her the first batter in history to score a hundred at the Women's Asian Games. The bowling unit has also impressed, with Sree Charani, Deepti Sharma, and Nandini Sharma sharing wickets consistently across the tournament.
Sri Lanka's Bid for Maiden Gold
Sri Lanka arrived in the final having beaten Malaysia and Pakistan in their previous two matches. Despite being two-time medallists at the Asiad — winning bronze in 2014 and silver in 2022 — they are yet to clinch a gold medal in Asian Games cricket and are aiming to end that wait.
The catalyst for Sri Lanka's campaign has been captain Chamari Athapaththu, who struck an unbeaten 83 off 50 balls in the semifinal to guide her side to a successful chase of 178 against Pakistan. Hasini Perera contributed a vital 42 in that innings. Athapaththu's form going into the final makes her the most dangerous batter on the field.
A Rematch With History
This gold medal contest is a rematch of two recent high-profile encounters: the 2023 Asian Games final and the Women's Asia Cup final earlier this month — both of which India won. Sri Lanka will be looking to avenge those defeats and rewrite the recent script between the two sides. The rivalry adds a sharp competitive edge to what is already a high-stakes final.
Playing XIs
India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud.
Sri Lanka Women: Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari.
With India's batting order in fine touch and Sri Lanka's captain in commanding form, the gold medal decider promises to be a compelling contest at Korogi Sports Park.
Point of View
And yet Sri Lanka keep finding their way back to the summit clash. That persistence deserves acknowledgement. Athapaththu's unbeaten 83 in the semifinal showed she can single-handedly reset a match; if India's bowlers do not contain her early, the script could change. The deeper question is structural: India's depth — eleven internationals who barely lost a beat against Bangladesh — versus Sri Lanka's reliance on their captain. If Athapaththu falls cheaply, Sri Lanka's batting depth may not be sufficient to chase whatever India post.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the toss in the India vs Sri Lanka Asian Games 2026 gold medal final?
India Women won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2026 gold medal final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on 22 September.
What are the playing XIs for the India vs Sri Lanka Asian Games final?
India field: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud. Sri Lanka field: Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari.
Is this the first time India and Sri Lanka are meeting in an Asian Games cricket final?
No. The two sides met in the 2023 Asian Games gold medal match as well, which India won. This final is also a rematch of the Women's Asia Cup final held earlier this month, also won by India.
What is Shafali Verma's record at the Women's Asian Games 2026?
Shafali Verma scored her first white-ball century in the semifinal against Bangladesh, becoming the first batter to hit a hundred at the Women's Asian Games. She enters the final in outstanding form.
What is Sri Lanka's Asian Games medal history in cricket?
Sri Lanka have won two medals in cricket at the Asian Games — a bronze in 2014 and a silver in 2022. The 2026 final represents their first opportunity to claim gold in the event.
