Dubai, September 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian women’s cricket team is gearing up for a crucial semifinal match against Bangladesh in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday. Despite a disappointing performance from the middle order throughout the tournament, opener Shefali Verma remains optimistic. She believes the current struggles are merely a temporary phase.
In this tournament, Shefali and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana have largely carried the scoring burden for India, while other batters have struggled to deliver consistent performances. Early in the competition, the team’s middle-order issues were highlighted when they lost eight wickets for just 46 runs against Thailand. However, Shefali has faith that her teammates will rise to the occasion in the knockout stage.
At a pre-match press conference, Shefali told reporters, “Sometimes bad days happen, but they are all very good players. They are all excellent batters. If we talk about Bharti and Richa, they are great finishers and perform well in the middle order. So, I am confident they will do well for our team.”
India has won the Women’s Asia Cup a record seven times. The team advanced to the semifinals after a convincing seven-wicket victory over Pakistan on September 5. Shefali believes the recent break was timely, allowing the team to recharge and refine their strategies. She stated, “Our preparation has been good. We had a four-day break during which we recovered well and practiced. So, we are all set for the semifinal.”
Having scored 104 runs in three matches during the Asia Cup 2026, Shefali emphasizes the importance of treating each game as a fresh start rather than relying on past performances. She remarked, “As a batter, whenever I step onto the field, I start from zero, but I draw confidence from my previous innings. Therefore, I will carry that confidence forward and start anew.”
Shefali also noted that the slow, spin-friendly pitches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium resemble those in India, providing a familiar environment for the team. She explained, “Of course, the conditions here are similar to those in India. Therefore, we are all accustomed to these conditions. There is a bit of turn on the wicket. We are all prepared for it, and I am aware of the conditions. So, I just go out on the field, take my time, and enjoy the game.”
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