Smriti Mandhana: India Won't Underestimate Semi-Final Opponents

Dambulla- India's acting captain Smriti Mandhana has assured that her team will not underestimate any opponent in the upcoming semi-finals of the Women's Asia Cup 2024. The Indian team has impressively advanced to the semi-finals, remaining unbeaten throughout the group stage.

India concluded their group-stage campaign with a commanding 82-run victory over Nepal on Tuesday night. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side topped Group A with six points, maintaining an undefeated record. Following India’s victory, Pakistan also secured a spot in the last four by finishing second in the group.

Although India's semi-final opponent is yet to be determined, Smriti Mandhana emphasized the importance of not taking any team lightly. After the match against Nepal, Mandhana remarked, "You cannot take any team (semi-final opponent) lightly. We have two days to rest and practice, after that we will go on the field and try our best."

India's campaign began with a resounding 7-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan and continued with a 78-run victory over the UAE. Their unbeaten streak was extended with the 82-run win over Nepal. Reflecting on Nepal's performance, Mandhana expressed hope for their continued improvement. "They (Nepal) always had a smile on their face, but sometimes, the amount of cricket we play, we forget to enjoy the game. They played some good cricket, and hopefully, they will keep getting better, and we will get a chance to play them often," she said.

Throughout the tournament, India's openers, Mandhana and Shafali Verma, have been dominant, leaving the middle order relatively untested. Mandhana is pleased that the middle order got some playing time ahead of the knockout stage. "Playing time is very important for all the batsmen. The middle order has not batted in the previous matches. The circumstances were different, and it is always good to get playing time. The middle order did not get playing time in the South Africa series as well, so it was good that they were able to spend some time on the field," Mandhana explained.

As India prepares for the semi-finals, Mandhana highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve and be fully prepared for the World Cup. "Preparations started after the WPL, there is still a lot to fix, and we have to constantly improve. We cannot go to the World Cup with less preparation," she concluded.