India Eyes UAE Scalp for Women’s Asia Cup Semifinal Berth

Dominant India Eyes UAE for Women’s Asia Cup Semifinal Berth

Dambulla: Dominant India will be eager to perfect their tactics further while warding off the United Arab Emirates, which can also push them firmly towards the semifinals of the Women’s Asia Cup here on Sunday.

Defending champions India’s supremacy was evident in their facile seven-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday, and the UAE will require a giant-sized miracle to stop Harmanpreet Kaur’s side.

India’s Performance and Strategy

India currently has two points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 2.29, and a win over the Emirates will take them to four points, positively reflecting on their NRR. It would not be an exaggeration to say that India will look more inwards in their match against the UAE, focusing on refining their own game rather than fretting over their rivals.

Bowling Excellence

There were excellent spells from Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, and Pooja Vastrakar against Pakistan, despite Vastrakar being slightly on the expensive side. Their efforts would have pleased the management to no limit. They will hope that left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, who returned to the India fold during the home series against South Africa recently, can also join the wicket-takers’ list on Sunday.

Renuka Singh, reflecting on her performance, said, “It was a good spell and there was some assistance from the weather as well. Of course, I could execute all the plans that I have been working on at nets,” during the post-match press meet.

Batting Ruthlessness

To top it off, the Indian batters were ruthless in hunting down a non-challenging target with 35 balls to spare. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave the team a flying start, adding 85 runs in just 9.3 overs. The loss of three wickets from that position was a minor aberration. Hence, India would hope for a matching effort from the middle-order batters in the upcoming matches, starting with the UAE.

Middle-Order Focus

While the openers provided a solid start, the middle-order batters will be under the spotlight to continue the momentum. Players like Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh will be crucial in ensuring that India can build and maintain strong innings throughout the match.

Preparation for T20 World Cup

The Asia Cup also presents India with a wonderful opportunity to prepare for the T20 World Cup to be held in Bangladesh later this year. Renuka said India is treating this event as a preparatory ground for the ICC showpiece.

“The Asia Cup is important for us because after this we don’t have many matches and we will have to rely on practice. So, this is a learning experience for us, and the conditions could be similar. So, this is a good chance for us to get ready for the World Cup,” she said.

Maintaining Focus

India must balance their long-term preparation for the World Cup with the immediate goal of performing well in the Asia Cup. Each match offers a chance to refine strategies, test combinations, and build confidence. However, it’s crucial not to overlook the current competition and maintain focus on each game.

UAE’s Challenge

Despite being the underdogs, the UAE team has the potential to create challenging moments, as they demonstrated against Nepal on Friday despite a six-wicket defeat. India cannot afford to be complacent and must approach the match with the same intensity as they did against Pakistan.

Potential Threats from UAE

UAE’s captain Esha Rohit Oza and all-rounder Kavisha Kumari Egodage have shown glimpses of their capabilities. Their performance could be pivotal in creating pressure on the Indian side. India’s bowlers will need to be on their toes to contain these key players.

Other Matches and Team Lineups

In the day’s second match, Pakistan will look to bounce back with a win when they face a tricky Nepal. This match will also be crucial in shaping the points table and determining the semifinalists.

Teams:

INDIA: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, D Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan.

UAE: Esha Rohit Oza (C), Kavisha Kumari Egodage, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Lavanya Keny, Emily Thomas, Heena Harish Hotchandani, Mehak Thakur, Indhuja Nandakumar, Rinitha Rajith, Khushi Mohan Sharma, Rishitha Rajith, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Vaishnave Mahesh.

Match Timing

The match starts at 2 PM IST.

India aims to secure their spot in the Women’s Asia Cup semifinals with a win against the UAE, focusing on perfecting their tactics and utilizing the match as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. With a strong lineup and recent dominant performance, India is poised to continue their winning streak. The team’s balanced approach of refining their game while keeping an eye on the immediate competition will be crucial in achieving their goals in the Asia Cup and beyond.