India Eyes Semi-Final Showdown with Renewed Vigour After Undefeated Group Stage

India’s stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana emphasizes the need to not underestimate their semi-final opponents after a flawless group stage. Victory over Nepal capped an unbeaten campaign, with Pakistan joining India in the final four. Mandhana lauds Nepal's spirit and highlights the need for middle-order game time.

India's stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana asserted that the team will not take their semi-final opponent lightly, despite concluding the group stage unbeaten. India’s campaign wrapped up with an emphatic 82-run win over Nepal, securing their spot at the top of Group A with six points.

With India's victory, Pakistan also advanced to the semi-finals, finishing second in the group. India now prepares for the final four, with their opponents yet to be decided. Mandhana stressed the importance of not underestimating any team, emphasizing the need for focused preparation.

'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 stated. India began the tournament with a dominant 7-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, followed by a 78-run win against the United Arab Emirates.

India showcased their prowess against Nepal, excelling in all aspects of the game. Nepal’s Bindu Rawal remained unbeaten with a score of 17, helping her team reach 96/9. Mandhana expressed hope for Nepal's future growth, admiring their consistent spirit.

'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 good cricket, and hopefully, they keep improving, and we get to play them often,' she said. India’s openers Mandhana and Shafali Verma dominated throughout the tournament, leaving the middle order largely untested until now.

Mandhana welcomed the middle-order’s recent game time, seeing it as crucial for knockout stage preparation. 'As an opener, you don't get many games where you don't bat. It was much-needed game time for all the other batters. The middle order hasn't batted in previous games. The conditions were different, and it’s important to have that experience. The middle order didn't get time during the South Africa series either, so it’s good they could spend some time at the crease. Our preparations started after WPL, and we need to fine-tune our game to avoid being underprepared for the World Cup,' she remarked. (ANI)