India Women Arrive in Dubai Ahead of Asia Cup Campaign
Dubai, Aug 27: Harmanpreet Kaur-led India have arrived in Dubai ahead of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup, with the eight-team T20 tournament set to begin on Friday. The Indian team’s arrival marks the start of its final preparations for a campaign aimed at reclaiming the continental title.
The tournament will be played at the Dubai International Stadium from August 28 to September 13, bringing together eight teams in the latest edition of the regional competition. India enter the tournament as one of the leading contenders and will be looking to add another Asia Cup title to their record.
Harmanpreet will lead a 15-member Indian squad, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain. The squad also includes established names such as Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh, alongside players who will be looking to make their mark on the continental stage.
India have enjoyed a dominant record in the Women’s Asia Cup, having won the tournament seven times. However, the team missed out on the title in the previous edition after losing to Sri Lanka in the final. The Harmanpreet-led side will therefore be keen to put that disappointment behind it and mount another title challenge in Dubai.
India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong. The group-stage clash against Pakistan on September 5 is expected to be one of the most closely watched matches of the tournament, with Harmanpreet acknowledging the additional pressure surrounding the high-profile fixture.
For India, the tournament also offers an opportunity to regain momentum in T20 cricket. With the team combining experienced campaigners and emerging players, the Asia Cup will provide an important platform to assess combinations, build confidence and compete against some of the region’s strongest sides.
As the Indian players settle into tournament conditions in Dubai, the focus will now shift to preparations for their opening assignment and adapting quickly to the demands of the competition.
With the continental crown at stake, Harmanpreet and her team will be hoping to turn their strong Asia Cup record into another successful campaign and bring the title back to India.