Women’s Asia Cup: India Face Bangladesh in Semi-Final

India have entered the knockout stage of the Women’s Asia Cup in impressive fashion, winning all three of their league matches and securing a place in the semi-finals. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will face Bangladesh in the first semi-final on Thursday and go into the contest as clear favourites. However, India cannot afford to be complacent, particularly because the Dubai surface is expected to assist spinners and Bangladesh have a quality spin attack of their own.

Spin has been one of the defining factors of the tournament so far. India’s Shree Charani, Deepti Sharma and Prema Rawat have combined to take 20 wickets in three matches, while Shafali Verma has also contributed with her part-time spin. Bangladesh will rely on captain Nigar Sultana along with Sobhana and Shorna in the batting department, while Nahida, Marufa and Rabeya form a capable bowling unit. India’s pace attack, featuring Kranti Gaud and Nandani Sharma, has also been consistent. The bigger concern is India’s batting, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali producing individual flashes of brilliance but several middle-order batters yet to find consistency. Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh will be expected to step up in the knockout game.

With large totals unlikely on the Dubai surface, the team that uses its spinners more effectively could have the advantage. India have a dominant record against Bangladesh in women’s T20Is, winning 21 of their 24 meetings and losing only three. Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana needs 69 more runs to become the leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is, overtaking New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who currently leads the list with 4,758 runs.

Probable Playing XI

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Richa Ghosh, Bharti, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma.

Bangladesh: Juwairiya, Nigar Sultana (Captain), Sobhana, Dilara, Shorna, Rabeya, Sharmin, Nahida, Sultana, Marufa, Fahima.