India is gearing up for their July 26 semi-final encounter with Bangladesh in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup. Opener Shafali Verma noted that the team recognizes the immense pressure of a knockout match. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India entered the semi-finals as the top seed in Group A, maintaining a perfect record after comfortably beating Pakistan, UAE, and Nepal.
Ahead of India’s semi-final clash against Bangladesh on July 26 in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup, hard-hitting opener Shafali Verma stated that the reigning champions understand how crucial the knockout clash is to them. India, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, remains unbeaten in the tournament, defeating Pakistan by seven wickets, UAE by 78 runs, and Nepal by 82 runs to top Group A.
During the pre-match press briefing, Shafali mentioned how pleased she is with the team's cohesion and their ability to close out games. She stressed the importance of the semi-final and mentioned that the team is focusing on their final practice sessions to be fully prepared for tomorrow's challenge.
With a personal tally of 158 runs, Shafali has emerged as one of the top performers of the event, supporting a strong batting core alongside Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Smriti Mandhana. Furthermore, she believes the team's lower-order hitters, specifically Pooja Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma, have the power to change the game with big hits.
Shafali explained that the batting unit is relying on its core strengths and maintaining self-belief. While praising the bowlers for their consistent efforts, she admitted that continuous improvement is necessary. She noted that the lower-order batters are putting in significant work during net sessions and hopes they can capitalize with some big sixes if they get the opportunity.
Wrapping up, Shafali pointed out that the team is focusing heavily on their fielding, which hasn't been their strongest suit during the Asia Cup. She stated that by sharpening their fielding alongside their batting and bowling, India aims to deliver a complete and flawless performance in the semi-finals.