NEW DELHI: Defending champions India are set to face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday in the Women's
Asia Cup
, aiming to secure a semifinal spot by perfecting their strategies. Fresh off a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan, India aim to continue their momentum, with two points and a
Net Run Rate
(NRR) of +2.29.
A win against UAE would raise India’s point tally to four and positively impact their NRR, further solidifying their tournament standing.
India's strategy for the match against UAE revolves around refining their own tactics rather than focusing on the opposition. The team's bowlers, especially
Deepti Sharma
, Renuka Singh, and Pooja Vastrakar, showcased excellent performances against Pakistan, much to the satisfaction of the management.
Pooja Vastrakar was slightly expensive, but her overall contribution was significant. Additionally, the team hopes that left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, who returned during the home series against South Africa, will shine in the upcoming game.
"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," Renuka Singh was quoted as saying by PTI in the post-match press conference.
Indian batters displayed an aggressive approach against Pakistan, achieving the target with 35 balls to spare. Openers Shafali Verma and
Smriti Mandhana
laid a strong foundation with an 85-run partnership in just 9.3 overs. Despite losing three wickets subsequently, the performance fueled hopes for consistent efforts from middle-order batters, starting with the match against UAE.
The Asia Cup is also vital preparation for India ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. Renuka Singh emphasized the event's importance as a preparatory ground for the ICC showpiece.
"The Asia Cup is important for us because after this we don't have many matches (ahead of T20 WC) and we will have to rely on practice. So, this is a learning experience for us, and the conditions (in Bangladesh) could be similar. So, this is a good chance for us to get ready for the World Cup,” she said.
Despite their focus on future goals, India must remain concentrated on their current matches. The UAE demonstrated potential in a close match against Nepal on Friday, despite facing a six-wicket defeat. This performance suggests UAE's capability to pose significant challenges.
In the second match of the day, Pakistan will aim to bounce back from their loss to India with a win against a tricky Nepal side.
Maintaining their dominant form, India hope to continue their winning streak and secure a spot in the semifinals by focusing on their game plan and using this tournament as a key preparatory stage for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
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