The Indian women's cricket team has arrived in Sri Lanka for the Women's Asia Cup, scheduled to start on Friday. Defending champions, India, are eyeing their eighth Asia Cup title as they prepare to take on rival Pakistan in Dambulla. The team, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur and featuring players like Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Varma, Renuka Singh, and Shreyanka Patil, appeared to be in high spirits during their flight from Chennai to Dambulla, as seen in photos shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The tournament will see teams from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the UAE, Thailand, and Nepal competing. India and Pakistan are in Group A along with Nepal and the UAE, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia are in Group B. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on July 26, with the final set to take place on July 28 in Dambulla.
India has had a successful run leading up to the Women's Asia Cup, with a 3-0 ODI series win against South Africa and a drawn T20I series earlier this year. The team will be aiming to maintain their winning streak in this tournament as they gear up for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October.
The squad for the Women's Asia Cup comprises players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, and more, with travelling reserves also announced for the tournament. India is focused on adding another trophy to their collection as they face tough competition in Sri Lanka.