Pre-tournament favourites India will open their Women’s Asia Cup 2026 campaign against Thailand in Dubai on Sunday (August 30). The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will aim to secure a big win in their opening match before taking on Hong Kong China and arch-rivals Pakistan.
India need to finish in the top two to qualify for the semifinals of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and, ideally, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side should not face much difficulty in securing a place in the knockout stage.
The Indian selectors have picked a strong squad for the eight-team tournament in the United Arab Emirates, and Harmanpreet will be keen to add another major trophy to her cabinet as India captain.
Here’s a look at India’s top performers and record holders in the Women’s Asia Cup
(T20I format):
Titles: 3 (2012, 2016, 2022)
Result summary: 25 wins and 4 defeats in 29 matches
Highest total: 201/5 in 20 overs against the UAE in Dambulla on July 21, 2024
Lowest total: 81 all out in 20 overs against Pakistan in Guangzhou on October 31, 2012
Biggest win (by runs): Defeated Hong Kong by 142 runs (Target: 167) in Guangzhou on October 26, 2012
Biggest win (by wickets): Crushed Bangladesh by 10 wickets (Target: 81) in Dambulla on July 26, 2024
Smallest win (by runs): Won by 17 runs (Target: 122) against Pakistan in Bangkok on December 4, 2016
Smallest win (by wickets): Defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets (Target: 98) in Bangkok on November 29, 2016
Most runs: Harmanpreet Kaur – 571 runs in 25 matches
Highest score: Mithali Raj – unbeaten 97 off 69 balls against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on June 3, 2018
Highest average: Mithali Raj – 61.42
Highest strike rate (minimum 50 balls): Richa Ghosh – 179.38
Most 50s: Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur – 3 half-centuries each
Most ducks: Kiran Navgire – 2
Most sixes: Shafali Verma – 9 sixes in 11 matches
Most runs in one edition: Mithali Raj – 220 runs in five matches in the 2016 Women’s Asia Cup
Most wickets: Deepti Sharma – 26 wickets in 19 matches
Best bowling figures: Poonam Yadav – 4/9 in four overs against Bangladesh in Kuala Lumpur on June 10, 2018
Most wickets in one edition: Deepti Sharma – 13 wickets in eight matches in the 2022 Women’s Asia Cup
Most dismissals: Deepti Sharma – 12 (5 catches and 7 stumpings) in 13 matches
Most catches: Harmanpreet Kaur – 9 catches in 25 matches
Highest partnership: 128 runs for the fourth wicket between Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues against the UAE in Sylhet on October 4, 2022
Most matches: Harmanpreet Kaur – 25 matches
Most matches as captain: Harmanpreet Kaur – 23 matches
In the last edition of the Women’s T20I Asia Cup in 2024, India finished as runners-up under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership.
