India-W eye second straight win as spirited Hong Kong come calling in Women’s Asia Cup
India will be returning to action in less than 24 hours as they take on Hong Kong after a massive win against Thailand in their Asia Cup opener. Despite the emphatic win against Thailand, India will also have a few issues to address concerning their middle order.
As Dubai gears up once again to host India’s second clash of the fray, India will be turning their attention towards a power-packed engine room that collapsed under the weight of hefty expectations against Thailand.
Shafali Verma being in form will certainly be an added boost for the Indian side, but they will be hoping for the other big guns to get into the rhythm and fire on all cylinders.
Hong Kong played out an absolute thriller against Thailand after their bowlers pulled off an incredible show. Unfortunately, they failed to cross the finish line, which should give them added incentive.
Playing under the tutelage of former Indian captain Mamatha Maben, Hong Kong will be giving it everything they’ve got.
Marina Lamplough put up a very special show in the last game, registering figures of 4-1-11-4. However, the lack of batting firepower saw Hong Kong lose steam towards the end of their innings, and Thailand were quick to apply the brakes.
One can expect the Natasha Miles-led side to go harder against a powerhouse like India and prove a point to the world.
Venue Watch:
The track in Dubai has been a concern for the batters. With the ball gripping to the surface, it hasn’t been one of those belters where batters get off the blocks right from the word go.
The surface has a tendency to slow down, which will be a major challenge for the batters. If the bowlers are able to get their discipline right, this might be another one of those low-scoring encounters.
Match details:
Match: India vs Hong Kong, Match 7, ACC Women’s Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Date: 3rd September, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM IST
Head-to-head:
This is the first time that the two teams will be facing each other in a WT20I.
Squads:
India:
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Gunalan Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal.
Hong Kong:
Natasha Miles (captain), Maryam Bibi, Chan Ka Ying, Chan Sau Ha, Chan Shing Yan Dorothea, Iqra Sahar, Joyleen Kaur, Mahekdeep Kaur, Mariko Hill, Marina Lamplough, Ruchitha Venkatesh, Shanzeen Shahzad, Siu Mei Wai, Wong Wing Kiu Hailey, Yasmin Daswani
