Picking an India-Sri Lanka combined XI ahead of Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final ft. Smriti Mandhana and Chamari Athapaththu
The Women's Asia Cup T20 2024 final between India Women and Sri Lanka Women is scheduled to take place at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday, July 28. Having gone undefeated throughout the competition, both teams will be aiming to win the trophy by bringing their best to the final.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s side defeated Bangladesh Women in the semi-final. After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Nigar Sultana’s team had a tough time at the crease and only managed 80 runs in their 20 overs. In response, India were brilliant, winning the game by 10 wickets and qualifying for their ninth Asia Cup final.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka had to fight hard in the semi-final clash against Pakistan. Chasing a target of 141, captain Chamari Athapaththu scored 63 runs. The Pakistani bowlers showed a great fight towards the end of the innings, but it wasn’t meant to be as the hosts won the match with one ball remaining.
Now, India and Sri Lanka are set to battle in the summit clash. Both teams have players who can single-handedly win the game for their side. On that note, we have picked the combined XI ahead of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 final.
Top order: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Chamari Athapaththu
The openers for our playing XI would be Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Mandhana has scored 113 runs in three innings, including a half-century against Bangladesh in the semi-final. The left-handed batter is a big-match player and will be eager to make an impact in the final game as well.
Her partner, Shafali Verma, is the second-highest run-getter in the tournament. Shafali has smashed 184 runs in four innings at an average of 61.3 and a strike rate of 149.5. The right-handed batter's best knock came against Nepal when she scored 81 runs off 48 balls.
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu will walk out at No. 3 in our combined playing XI. The left-handed batter was brilliant in the semi-final clash against Pakistan, scoring an important 63 runs off 48 balls.
Athapaththu is currently the leading run-getter in the tournament, having scored 243 in four innings at an average of 121.5. She scored a blistering hundred (119*) against Malaysia in the group-stage matches. The 34-year-old also has two wickets to her name.
Middle order/all-rounders: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (wk), Anushka Sanjeewani, Kavisha Dilhari, and Deepti Sharma
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur will come in at No. 4. Kaur hasn’t had much opportunity to bat in this Asia Cup. She remained unbeaten on five in the first game against Pakistan.
The right-handed player was on fire against the United Arab Emirates; she scored 66 off 47 balls as Team India crossed the 200-run mark for the first time in T20I cricket. Harmanpreet is known for her aggressive style and can single-handedly win games for her team.
The 20-year-old Indian keeper, Richa Ghosh, has made a great name for herself. Richa was at her absolute best in the fifth match of the tournament against the UAE. The right-handed batter scored 64* off 29 balls, smashing 12 boundaries and a maximum. She smashed five consecutive fours in the last over to reach her first fifty in T20I cricket.
Anushka Sanjeewani played a very important knock of 24* runs off 22 balls against Pakistan, which helped Sri Lanka qualify for the final. Sanjeewani has scored 55 runs in two innings and can play an important role in the final for her side.
Sri Lanka's top wicket-taker in the competition is 23-year-old spinner Kavisha Dilhari. Kavisha helped Sri Lanka restrict Pakistan to a low total in the semi-final match by taking the two crucial wickets of Sidra Ameen and Nida Dar.
She is the fourth-leading wicket-taker in the tournament with seven scalps from four games. Kavisha can be handy with the bat as well.
Indian off-spinner Deepti Sharma is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. Sharma has picked up nine wickets in four games at an economy of 4.37. The off-spinner will be looking to create an impact in the final with the bat as well if she gets the opportunity.
Bowlers: Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav and Udeshika Prabodhani
Indian pacer Renuka Singh is third on the leading wicket-takers' list. Renuka was brilliant in the semi-final against Bangladesh. She took three wickets, conceding only 10 runs in her spell of four overs. Overall, she had seven scalps in four games.
Radha Yadav, the left-arm spinner, can change the momentum of the game in the middle over. She is also brilliant in the outfield. Radha has picked up six wickets in the tournament and will be looking to add more to her tally in the final game.
Udeshika Prabodhani was instrumental in her team's victory over Pakistan in the semi-final. The Sri Lankan pacer shattered the Women in Green's hopes of posting a high total by dismissing both the Pakistani openers, Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali.
The left-arm pacer took two wickets and conceded only 23 runs in her spell of four overs. Sri Lankan fans will be hoping that the veteran pacer will deliver in the final as well.