Dubai: India opener Shafali Verma on Wednesday backed the team’s middle order to come good in the women’s Asian Cup semifinal against Bangladesh, saying a few low-scoring games should not be a concern ahead of the crucial clash.
India will take on Bangladesh in the semifinal on Thursday.
India’s middle order has struggled for runs in the last three matches, but Shafali insisted there was no reason to panic.
Despite the predicament, Shafali insisted there was no reason to panic.
“Well, I would say there is a bit of bad days. But they are all very good players. They all are very good batters. And just talking about Bharti (Fulmali) and Richa (Ghosh), they all are both very good finishers and even doing a great job in the middle order as well. So, I am pretty sure they will do well for our team,” she said.
India have had four days to prepare for the semifinal, and Shafali said the break helped the players recover and train well.
“We had good preparation. We got four days of break and on those days we recovered well and we did practice as well. So, we all are ready for the semis,” Shafali said.
Shafali has enjoyed some memorable outings against Bangladesh in recent times, having scored a half-century in her last outing against the opposition.
Asked if those performances would give her added confidence, the opener said she would take the confidence but would approach the game from square one.
“Yeah, like as a batter, whenever I go to bat, it just starts from zero. But what came from that innings is just confidence. So, I will take that confidence and just start from zero again,” she said.
On the possibility of changes to India’s playing XI, Shafali said the decision rested with captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
“Like, I am not a captain. So, captain will decide this. So, I just try to play my best,” she said.
The Dubai conditions have offered some assistance to spinners, which Shafali believes will play to India’s strengths.
“Yeah, of course, this condition is similar like India. So, we all know the condition. There is a bit of turn in the wicket. So, we all are prepared about that and even I also know about the condition. So, I just go out there and just take time and just go out there and enjoy it,” she said.
