Shafali’s Reprieved Blitz Carries India Into Another Asia Cup Final

On a surface where batting grew harder with every passing over, Shafali Verma’s charmed 64 proved the difference as India defeated Bangladesh by 40 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 👑🇮🇳#DPWorldWomensAsiaCup2026 #INDWvBANW #ACC pic.twitter.com/FMEO3LQaQ1

— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 10, 2026

The value of Shafali’s 40-ball 64 lay less in its aesthetics than its timing. Put in to bat after Bangladesh won the toss, India were confronted with a hard new ball that offered the best batting conditions of the evening. Smriti Mandhana fell for 2 early, leaving the innings vulnerable. Shafali and Pratika Rawal responded with a 50-run second-wicket stand, with Rawal contributing 20 off 24 before she was caught at cover attempting to take on Rabeya Khan.

Rawal’s departure at 58 for 2 did little to slow Shafali. She brought up her 20th T20I fifty from 35 deliveries, then accelerated through the 14th over, striking a six and two fours before falling to Sultana Khatun at deep mid-wicket. Her knock featured seven fours and three sixes, aided by three dropped chances and a straightforward run-out reprieve that Bangladesh will rue.

At 92 for 3 after 14 overs, India needed a strong finish on a pitch offering increasing assistance to the spinners. Harmanpreet Kaur struggled for fluency, managing just six runs from her first 18 balls as Bangladesh’s slow bowlers applied the squeeze. The India captain found another gear late, scoring 18 from her next 10 deliveries to finish unbeaten on 24 off 28.

Richa Ghosh weighed in with 21 off 16, and Deepti Sharma‘s cameo of 13 from six balls, including a four and a six, lifted India to 149 for 7. The final five overs yielded 53 runs, a marked acceleration from the 51 India had managed in the previous nine. That contrast underscored the difficulty of the conditions and the importance of India’s late surge.

Bangladesh’s reply followed a similar early pattern but without the same release. The opening pair put on 26 in the sixth over before Shree Charani broke through, dismissing Juairiya Ferdous for 14.

Deepti then took control. She claimed three of the next four wickets to fall, denying Bangladesh any opportunity to build momentum. The asking rate climbed steadily, leaving the lower order with too much to do. Late boundaries offered brief resistance but never threatened the target.

Nandni Sharma returned for the final over and closed out the innings with two wickets, including a hit-wicket dismissal of Rabeya Khan. Bangladesh finished on 109 for 7, falling 40 runs short.

India’s passage to another Asia Cup final was built on a familiar formula: a top-order platform, a late-innings flourish and a disciplined bowling effort that squeezed the opposition through the middle overs. Bangladesh’s chase never recovered from Deepti’s intervention, and India’s place in the final was secured with room to spare.

                                               

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