After match 10 of the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup between India and Nepal, India’s stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana stated that the team would not take their semi-final opponent lightly after concluding the group stage unbeaten.
The ninth edition of the tournament, from July 19 to July 28, 2024, in Sri Lanka, features eight teams and is played in the T20 format as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. India is placed in Group A alongside Nepal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Pakistan, while Group B consists of hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Against Nepal, India secured a comfortable 82-run victory, finishing their group-stage campaign at the top of Group A with six points.
With India set to play in the final four, Mandhana emphasized that the Indian team won’t take their opponents lightly. She mentioned that no team should be underestimated and highlighted the importance of the upcoming two days for rest and practice before they go out and apply themselves.
“You don’t take any team (semi-final opponent) lightly. We have two days to rest and practice before we go out and apply ourselves,” Mandhana said after the match.
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India’s campaign began with a 7-wicket win over arch-rival Pakistan, followed by a 78-run victory against the UAE. In the match against Nepal, India outplayed their opponents.
Smriti Mandhana expressed hope that they continue to grow and improve. She noted that the Nepalese players always had smiles on their faces, a reminder that sometimes, with the amount of cricket played, the joy of the game can be forgotten. Mandhana commended their good cricket and expressed hope for more frequent matches against them in the future.
“They (Nepal) always had a smile on their faces, but sometimes, with the amount of cricket we play, we forget to enjoy the game. They played some good cricket, and hopefully, they keep improving, and we get to play them often,” she stated.
Smriti Mandhana noted that as an opener, it’s rare not to bat, and the recent game provided much-needed time for the other batters. She emphasized that the middle order hadn’t batted in previous games and highlighted the importance of game time under different conditions. Reflecting on the lack of time the middle order had during the South Africa series, she appreciated their opportunity to spend time in the middle. She mentioned that preparations began post-WPL and stressed the importance of continuous improvement, stating that they cannot go into a World Cup underprepared.
“As an opener, you don’t get a lot of games where you don’t bat. Much needed game time for all the other batters. The middle order hasn’t batted in the previous games. The conditions were different, and it is always good to have game time under your belt. The middle order didn’t get time in the South Africa series as well, so good they could spend some time in the middle. The preparations started post-WPL, there are a lot of fine-tuning to be done, and we have to keep improving, cannot go into a World Cup underprepared,” she remarked.
(Quotes sourced from The Statesman)