India captain Harmanpreet Kaur says the Women’s Asia Cup final will be decided by the team that remains calm and makes fewer mistakes, as her side prepares to face defending champions Sri Lanka on Sunday.
The two unbeaten teams will meet in a repeat of the 2024 final, when Sri Lanka defeated India to lift their first Women’s Asia Cup title.
Asked by Dubai Diaries whether the contest would be settled by a moment of individual brilliance or by the team that executed the basics better, Kaur said a final was not the occasion to search for something extraordinary.
“When you play an important match like this, it is about playing to your strengths and backing them,” she said.
“You don’t need to try too many things or do something extraordinary. Whenever we try to do something special, that is when mistakes can happen.
“It is about trusting yourself, remaining calm and making fewer mistakes. The team that makes fewer mistakes in an important game has a better chance of winning.”
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu offered a similar assessment, saying her players must treat the final as another game and concentrate on the elements within their control.
“It is a final, but it is still a game,” Athapaththu said. “We do not want to put too much pressure on our shoulders.
“We need to execute our plans and control what we can control. Adaptation is important, but we have very simple and basic plans.”
India seek to reverse 2024 result
The moderator asked Kaur about the opportunity to turn the tables on Sri Lanka following India’s defeat in the previous final.
Kaur said the result would depend on which side produced its best cricket on the day, rather than its record or reputation.
“When we played Sri Lanka last time, they came up with some really solid plans and performances,” she said.
“T20 cricket is about who plays the better cricket on a given day. There is no question of one team being stronger or another being lesser.
“Both teams will be looking to play their best cricket, and hopefully we can come up with a solid performance.”
India have benefited from contributions across their side during the tournament, with different players taking responsibility at important stages.
Kaur said that collective effort had been one of the most encouraging parts of India’s campaign, particularly on pitches that have not always been easy for batting.
She also acknowledged the threat posed by Sri Lanka’s bowlers, who have used the conditions effectively.
“The person who is doing well on the day has to take responsibility and finish the game,” Kaur said. “On this pitch, you have to spend some time in the middle before playing your shots.”
Sri Lanka’s middle order provides confidence
Sri Lanka reached the final after surviving tight contests against Bangladesh and Pakistan, with their middle and lower-order batters responding under pressure.
Athapaththu praised Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari and experienced batter Nilakshi de Silva for their contributions, but admitted Sri Lanka’s top order must improve.
“The way the youngsters and the middle order have played has been amazing,” she said. “They have absorbed the pressure in the middle overs, which is a really good sign.
“But we need to improve our batting in the top three. If we execute our plans, we can change the result.”
Athapaththu believes the experience of coming through two close games could prove valuable against India.
“The way we bounced back and absorbed the pressure is a good sign,” she said. “India are a very good team, so playing a semi-final like that was good preparation for us.”
A second successive title would also provide another lift for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka, Athapaththu added.
“Winning the last Asia Cup was a really good thing for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka,” she said. “It changed the mindset of the spectators and the board because people could see that our girls were playing good cricket.
“If we win again, it will be very good for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka.”
Both captains also called on supporters to attend the final. Kaur described the Indian fans as one of the team’s “biggest strengths”, while Athapaththu invited the UAE’s Sri Lankan community to come out and support both sides.
“When the stadium is packed, you feel more positive and want to do more for your team,” Kaur said. “Their support means a lot to us.”
Pitch forecast
For the heavyweight match on Sunday, September 13, the surface is expected to offer some assistance to the slower bowlers, with batting becoming more difficult when the ball grips and loses pace. Batters may need time to adjust before attempting their shots, making partnerships and strike rotation important.
The toss could still influence the captains’ plans, although both sides said executing their plans and adapting to the conditions would be more important.
