The Indian team will have one eye on the semi-final spot in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 as they take on the UAE on July 21, Sunday in Dambulla. India were at their dominant best against arch-rivals Pakistan as they thrashed them by 7 wickets with an impressive all-round performance. Harmanpreet Kaur and her side were nearly flawless in all aspects of their game.
The bowlers stepped up big time as Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil picked 5 wickets between them against Pakistan, while Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar were dangerous with the new ball upfront. The lines and lengths in the first game were right on the money as Pakistan batters struggled to find any rhythm. The show wasn’t over. However, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana made light work of the chase with some explosive batting up top.
Shreyanka, in the meantime, has been ruled out after she fractured her finger in the match against Pakistan. Left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar has replaced her in the squad. UAE, on the other hand, struggled in their first match against Nepal as the batters struggled, and the bowlers failed to have any impact. They will be fighting to keep their hopes alive in the tournament and will need a big showing against the mighty Indian team.
IND vs UAE: Squads
INDIA: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, D Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Tanuja Tanwar, 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.
IND vs UAE: Head-to-Head
India and UAE have faced each other once in T20Is, and it was the Indian team who emerged victorious on that occasion.
IND vs UAE: Pitch conditions
The matches in Dambulla have been low-scoring affairs, and we could expect a similar one on Sunday. Including the Indian team’s win over Pakistan, 3 out of the 4 matches so far has seen the side chasing win the match.
IND vs UAE: Predicted Playing XI
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur Singh
UAE: Esha Rohit Oza (c), Rinitha Rajith, Theertha Satish (wk), Kavisha Egodage, Samaira Dharnidharka, Lavanya Keny, Khushi Sharma, Vaishnave Mahesh, Indhuja Nandakumar, Heena Hotchandani, Rithika Rajith
IND vs UAE: Prediction
With captain Harmanpreet wanting her side to maintain their fearless cricket, expect India to continue their dominant and book their spot in the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 with a big win on Sunday.