BCCI Announces India Squad for Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Led by Harmanpreet Kaur

August 2, 2026

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named the 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup 2026. Harmanpreet Kaur will continue as captain, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain. The tournament will be played in the T20 format, starting in mid-August and concluding in September, following India’s early exit in the group stage of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

What Happened

The selection panel made several squad adjustments relative to the team chosen for the recent Women’s T20 World Cup. Uncapped 18-year-old G. Kamalini has been brought into the squad as a second wicketkeeper alongside Richa Ghosh. In contrast, Yastika Bhatia, who registered a historic century in the Lord’s Test, has been left out. Leg-spinner Prema Rawat has been selected to replace Shreyanka Patil, who continues to recover from an ankle ligament injury sustained during the World Cup event. In addition to the main 15-player squad, five players have been named as reserves.

Key Highlights

Captaincy: Harmanpreet Kaur retains the captaincy with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain.
Squad Changes: 18-year-old G. Kamalini enters as the second wicketkeeper, while Yastika Bhatia misses out.
Injury Replacement: Prema Rawat replaces the injured leg-spinner Shreyanka Patil.
Main Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharati Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G. Kamalini (WK), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Nandini Sharma, and Kranti Gaud.
Standby Reserves: Pratika Rawal, Uma Chetry (WK), Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, and Minnu Mani.

Why This Matters

India stands as the most successful team in Women’s Asia Cup history, having secured seven titles overall—four in the ODI format and three in the T20 format. However, India lost their title in the previous 2024 edition, where Sri Lanka won their first championship led by Player of the Tournament Chamari Athapaththu. Following a disappointing group-stage elimination at the World Cup, the continental championship offers an opportunity for redemption in T20 cricket.

What to Watch Next

Official fixtures and the match schedule for the tournament are currently pending and will be announced by tournament organizers ahead of the mid-August start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is captaining the Indian team for the Asia Cup 2026?

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the side, with Smriti Mandhana designated as vice-captain.

When will the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 take place?

The T20 tournament is scheduled to run from mid-August through September, with specific fixture dates yet to be announced.

What changes were made to the Indian squad from the T20 World Cup?

18-year-old G. Kamalini joined as a wicketkeeper, Prema Rawat replaced the injured Shreyanka Patil, and Yastika Bhatia was omitted from the squad.

Source: CricTracker