India name Asia Cup squad, keep faith in teenage wicketkeeper-batter

India have announced a largely unchanged squad for the forthcoming Women's Asia Cup 2026, with the national selectors once again leaving out Yastika Bhatia — despite her century in the recent Lord's Test — while continuing to back 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini.

The announcement comes just weeks after the Asian Games squad was confirmed on June 30, and marks a very deliberate settling on continuity for the senior selection panel, who have resisted pressure to make significant alterations to the white-ball setup.

Shreyanka Patil misses out

The only change from the squad selected for next month's Asian Games is the absence of Shreyanka Patil, suggesting that the off-spinning all-rounder has not yet recovered from the ankle ligament injury that prematurely ended her T20 World Cup campaign. When the Asian Games squad was announced, Shreyanka had been included subject to fitness clearance, but she has now been left out of the Asia Cup side entirely.

Leg-spin bowling all-rounder Prema Rawat, who replaced Shreyanka in the World Cup squad, has retained her place in the Asia Cup team. The 24-year-old played one match at the T20 World Cup, against South Africa in Manchester, where she was unbeaten on 3 off 2 balls and returned figures of 0/21 from two overs. India were later knocked out of the tournament after losing their final league match to Australia.

Tournament schedule

The Women's Asia Cup is expected to be held from late August to mid-September, although a formal schedule is yet to be released. It will be followed by the Asian Games in Japan, scheduled from September 17 to 22.

Several key members of the contingent are currently preparing in England, with four players — vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh — featuring in The Hundred competition.

The full Asia Cup 2026 squad

India's Asia Cup squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G. Kamalini (WK), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani Meerak, Nandini Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Kranti Gaur

Reserve players: Pratika Rawal, Uma Chetry (WK), Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Minnu Mani

Despite the echoes of debate over the selection calls, management have signaled clear confidence in Kamalini as the long-term international option behind the stumps, while the absence of Yastika Bhatia and Shreyanka Patil leaves no question marks over India's current direction.