Photo via Hindustan Times

Asia Cup triumph should be treated as a small joy and Harmanpreet Kaur's India should focus on tournaments that matter

India's women's national cricket team secured their eighth Asia Cup title in ten editions by defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai on Sunday night, avenging their previous loss to the same opponent in Dambulla two years earlier. Despite this continental dominance, the squad still seeks its first ICC T20 World Cup title across ten editions held to date, having managed runner-up status in 2020 and semifinal exits in 2009, 2010, 2018, and 2023, along with early group-stage exits in the two most recent tournaments.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who marked a historic milestone during the competition by becoming the first player in men's or women's cricket to captain 150 T20Is, has led the side in five T20 World Cups since 2018. Despite earning the same match fees from the BCCI as the men's national players, participating in their own franchise tournament, and claiming a 50-over home World Cup the previous year, global Twenty20 silverware continues to elude her squad.

The team also drew attention at the presentation ceremony by declining to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi to align with the position taken by India's men's squad.

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