Shafali, Deepti power India into sixth T20 Asia Cup final

As the Women's Asia Cup 2026 progresses, India solidifies their position as the clear frontrunner heading into Thursday's semi-final against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A flawless record in the group stage, commanding displays with both bat and ball, and an impregnable opening partnership have all contributed to India's near-perfect campaign thus far.

The batting prowess of Smriti Mandhana, who recently smashed a record-breaking century against Hong Kong, and her opening partner Shafali Verma, who has been in superb form with 543 runs in 19 T20I innings at an impressive strike rate of 151.67, adds to India's intimidating lineup. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, who secured their semi-final berth with a 34-run victory over the UAE, is expected to field a relatively unchanged XI led by captain Nigar Sultana.

With the toss scheduled for 7:30 IST, India currently hold an 87% chance of victory according to win probability analyses, while Bangladesh's chances sit at a mere 13%. Betting odds reflect this significant disparity, with India priced at 1.04 and Bangladesh at 10.50.