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India Favourites, Bangladesh Fearless Ahead of Women’s Asia Cup Semifinal
India and Bangladesh will play each other in the Women’s Asia Cup semifinal in Dubai on Thursday.
India have won their matches comfortably and are considered the stronger team.
Bangladesh famously beat India in the 2018 final to win their only Asia Cup title.
Three Indian players from that final, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma, are still playing.
India’s opening batters have scored many of the team’s runs in this tournament.
Their middle-order batters have not been as consistent.
India’s bowlers, especially their spinners, have been very successful.
Bangladesh recently struggled to score against the United Arab Emirates.
Bangladesh say they can play freely because they have little to lose, while India face greater expectations.
India enter Thursday’s semifinal as strong favourites after convincing wins over Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Bangladesh are drawing confidence from their 2018 Asia Cup final victory over India, their only continental title.
India’s surviving 2018 players are Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma.
India’s spin trio have taken 20 wickets for a combined 79 runs in the tournament.
Bangladesh must improve after scoring only 103/7 against the United Arab Emirates, while India’s middle-order form remains a concern.
- Who
- India and Bangladesh women’s cricket teams, including players such as Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Sharmin Akhter.
- What
- India and Bangladesh are meeting in a semifinal of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup.
- Where
- Dubai.
- When
- Thursday, during the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup.
- Why
- India are seeking to reach the final as tournament favourites, while Bangladesh are aiming to upset the reigning 50-over world champions and draw on their 2018 title-winning experience.
India’s Advantage
Bangladesh’s Opportunity
Match expectations
India’s Advantage
India are the clear favourites after three convincing wins and enter with the greater pressure to perform.
Bangladesh’s Opportunity
Bangladesh believe they have nothing to lose and can play with freedom against a stronger opponent.
Batting outlook
India’s Advantage
India’s opening partnership has carried a larger share of the scoring, but Shafali Verma believes the middle order will eventually deliver.
Bangladesh’s Opportunity
Bangladesh need a significantly improved batting performance after managing only 103/7 against the United Arab Emirates.
Recent history
India’s Advantage
India now have the status of reigning 50-over world champions, unlike the team that struggled around the 2018 final.
Bangladesh’s Opportunity
Bangladesh can point to their 2018 Asia Cup final win over India as evidence that they can defeat the favourites.
Key facts
- Tournament
- 2026 Women’s Asia Cup
- Match
- India vs Bangladesh semifinal
- Venue
- Dubai
- India’s tournament record
- Three convincing victories over Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong
- India spin trio
- 20 wickets for a combined 79 runs
- Bangladesh’s 2018 achievement
- Defeated India in the final to win their maiden and only continental title
- Bangladesh’s latest batting total
- 103/7 against the United Arab Emirates
Quotes
Sharmin Akhter
Bangladesh batter who expressed confidence before the semifinal.
“There have been a few bad days, but they are all very good players. They are good batters. Bharti and Richa are great finishers who have done really good things in the middle order. I’m sure they will do well (in the upcoming matches).”
indianexpress.com
“If you think this is a pressure game, you will feel pressure. The way I look at it, it is a pleasure to get to play against India, because to be champions, you have to beat top teams like them.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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