Having endured a largely disappointing campaign in the Women's T20 World Cup, Harmanpreet fired in the all-important clash against Australia, but her inconsistency with the bat remained one of the talking points from the campaign in which India struggled against higher-ranked teams.

With dependable batter Jemimah Rodrigues sidelined for the Asia Cup and Asian Games due to a hamstring injury, India have added Pratika Rawal to their star-studded squad, but the choice hardly settles the requirement for a middle-order enforcer.

India Women Squad: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Pratika Rawal, Radha Yadav, Gunalan Kamalini, Prema Rawat.

Thailand Women Squad: Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, Phannita Maya, Nannapat Koncharoenkai(w), Naruemol Chaiwai(c), Chanida Sutthiruang, Naomi Hamilton, Suleeporn Laomi, Nannaphat Chaihan, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Thipatcha Putthawong, Koranit Suwanchonrathi, Chayanisa Phengpaen, Thanrada Seesawan, Nattakan Chantam.

With questions persisting over captain Harmanpreet Kaur's own form and future in the shortest format, India head into a crucial phase of competing in two Asian-level competitions in which they would be expected to go the distance.

Following the eight-team Women's T20 Asia Cup, where India are placed in Group A along with Thailand, Hong Kong and Pakistan, they will head into next month's Asian Games in Japan with expectations high to bring more laurels to the country.

Hello folks, welcome to NDTV's live blog for India's Women's Asia Cup 2026 opener. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. take on Thailand in their first game of the tournament. Stay connected for live scores and updates.