🏏Women's Asia Cup 2026: Group A, M 9: IND W vs PAK W on 05/09/26🏏- Page 2

India have won both of their opening matches, beating Thailand and Hong Kong by resounding margins. Pakistan have played one match so far, beating Thailand.

India's batter Smriti Mandhana became the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket with her 124 against Hong Kong on Thursday. The win sealed India's progress from the group.

India will start as favourites when they take on Pakistan in a Group A encounter of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai on Saturday. With two wins in two games, India have already made the semifinals. On the other hand, Pakistan will need to win one out of their remaining to games to make it to the last four of the continental tournament.

Can Smriti Mandhana continue her good run against Pakistan?

Smriti Mandhana has a decent record against Pakistan in T20Is. The Indian opener has scored 307 runs in 11 innings at an average of 30.70 and a strike rate of 111.23, with two fifties and a best score of 68.

Can Smriti Mandhana add another feather to her cap?

Smriti Mandhana, who etched her name into record books in the game against Hong Kong, has another milestone in front of her today. The Indian vice-captain stands just 78 runs away from overtaking New Zealand legend Suzie Bates as the highest run-getter in women's T20Is.

In 173 T20Is, she has made 4,681 runs at an average of 30.79 in 167 innings at a strike rate of 126.54, with two centuries and 35 fifties. On top is Suzie, who has made 4,758 runs in 186 T20Is and 178 innings at an average of 28.83 and a strike rate of 108.60, with a century and 28 fifties.

Pressure mounting on Pratika Rawal

The likes of Pratika Rawal, Richa Ghosh and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will look to spend more time in the middle, having not been able to convert starts. Pressure is mounting on new number three Rawal, who has not been able to meet the demands of the T20 game, having found plenty of success in the ODI format. Notably, Rawal made it to the side after Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out following an injury that she sustained during The Hundred.

Pakistan needs to pull up their socks.

Pakistan need drastic improvement in their batting to compete with India. The shortcomings in the batting department have let the team down for a number of years. Even in their last game against Thailand, Pakistan found themselves under pressure in the powerplay with the loss of three wickets and managed to defend a lowly 119 against a less-established side. The team over-relies on opener Muneeba Ali and bowling all-rounder Fatima Sana who is also the captain of the side. That will need to change if Pakistan are to challenge their mighty rivals.

Indian bowlers are on a roll

On the bowling front, spinners have had the success mostly in Dubai so far. For India, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani have been among the wickets. In fact, Deepti is currently the leading wicket-taker among women in the shortest format of the game.

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma among shining stars

For India Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have been the two standout batters in the side. While Shafali scored a 64 in the first game, Mandhana broke several records on her way to become the first Indian woman to score two T20I hundreds. She is also surpassed legendary Mithali Raj to become the leading run-getter in women's internationals.

How does Group A look like?

The Indian women have already booked their place in the semifinals after two big wins over Thailand and Hong Kong. On the other hand, Pakistan have one win so far. They need one more win to book a last four spot. The top two teams from the each of the groups will make it to the semis of the Women's Asia Cup 2026.

Originally posted by: Savera84

In the spotlight - Prema Rawat and Nashra Sandhu

Prema Rawat's T20I debut came in a high-pressure match - against South Africa at the T20 World Cup. She did not get a game in that tournament after that. But in two games of the Asia Cup thus far, she has shown her mettle, even if those games were against Thailand and Hong Kong. The legspinner showed the spunk to hold her lengths whenever the batters attacked, and has been quite economical. Her two-wicket haul, including a maiden international wicket, in the previous outing should keep her in good spirits for the match against Pakistan. That she has kept the experienced Radha Yadav on the bench speaks about the team's confidence in her.

Nashra Sandhu's appetite for a fight is hardly surprising considering she wanted to become a fast bowler. The left-arm spinner has quite liked playing against India going by her T20I record: six wickets, seven matches, economy of 5.47 and an average of 18 (much lower than her career average of 21.2). What's more, she has a good record against Smriti Mandhana (30 runs in 32 balls for two dismissals, who is also fresh off her second T20I century, and Harmanpreet Kaur (26 off 34 balls for one dismissal). With conditions in Dubai offering some assistance to slower bowlers, Sandhu can be a handful for the Indian middle order.

Thank you for the tags Savera ji !!

Both teams are gathered in their respective huddles, with the live visuals showing India head coach Amol Muzumdar addressing the entire team. Having already qualified for the knockouts, it will be interesting to see if India make any changes to their XI. They have gone in with the same team for their first two matches, with Gunalan Kamalini, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav still waiting to make their first appearances in the tournament.

Pakistan Women have won the toss and have opted to bat

Fatima Sana: We're gonna bat first because we want to put a maximum total here. [Did the last game influence this decision?] Yeah, because we know we have a good bowling side, so we will try to restrict them. [How have you addressed the batting wobble?] We had a good chat with the team and we just want to play according to the pitch. [Any changes?] No, we have the same team.

Harmanpreet Kaur: [Happy to be chasing today?] Definitely. Our bowling is doing great in this tournament and good getting the opportunity to bowl first. [How challenging is chasing?] I think while batting it's always about giving ourselves some time and then going for your shots. And I think the first two games we did really well in that department and hopefully we'll continue. [On leading for the 150th time in T20Is] Great achievement. But the key is keep enjoying yourself on the field and that is a key, I try to keep up with that. [What score would you like to chase?] We'll try to restrict them for a short total, so there won't be pressure while chasing. [Any changes from the last game?] No, we're going with the same eleven.