Seven-time Women’s Asia Cup champions India have been asked to bat first by Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty after she won the toss. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side are the favourites when they take on Bangladesh in the semifinal of the Women’s Asia Cup on Thursday. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side have been in imperious form throughout the tournament, topping Group A after winning all their matches, and they are heavily favoured to march one step closer to another continental title triumph.
India’s campaign so far in the tournament has been highlighted by dominant displays, none more so than their clinical group-stage thrashing of traditional rivals Pakistan, whom they skittled for just 55 before running away with a seven-wicket victory.
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Teams: India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal.
Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter (vc), Dilara Akter, Farjana Easmin, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sarmin Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akther Maghla.
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India big favourites in Women’s Asia Cup semis; Bangladesh have nothing to lose
Harmanpreet Kaur hit the winning runs in her record 150th T20I match as captain. (BCCI Photo)
A lot has changed since 2018. Eight summers ago, India and Bangladesh lined up in Kuala Lumpur for the Women’s Asia Cup final and 240 deliveries later, it was the underdogs who reached the summit, claiming their maiden — and still only — continental title. India had hit the depths and in the days that followed, this newspaper reported a rift between the players and coach Tushar Arothe, one that ended in his resignation.
The India that Bangladesh will face in the semifinals of the 2026 Asia Cup in Dubai on Thursday bears little resemblance to the team from 2018, save for its three surviving pillars — captain Harmanpreet Kaur, deputy Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma. Bangladesh will not meet a team without an ICC trophy to its name but the reigning 50-over world champions.
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Source: indianexpress.com
