Cricket

Indian Cricketers Shine in ICC T20I Rankings After Asia Cup TriumphIndia's star cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Renuka Singh Thakur have made significant strides in the latest ICC T20I rankings, reflecting their exceptional performances in the recently concluded Women's T20 Asia Cup.Mandhana, India's vice-captain and opening batter, has moved up to fourth place among batters with 743 rating points. Her crucial 60-run knock in the final against Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in India's victory.Thakur, a fast bowler, has ascended to fifth place among bowlers with 722 rating points. Her impressive performance in the Asia Cup, where she took seven wickets, pushed her up four places in the rankings. She now trails only England's Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, India's Deepti Sharma, and Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal.Radha Yadav has also made notable progress, climbing seven places to 13th position. Her six wickets in the Asia Cup made her the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.At the top of the batters' rankings, Australia's Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath continue to lead, with West Indies' Hayley Matthews in third place. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively.Athapaththu, who was named Player of the Tournament, has made the biggest gain in the rankings, moving up three places to sixth with 705 points. Her exceptional performance in the final, where she scored 61 runs, earned her a career-best rating.Other notable movements include Pakistan's Muneeba Ali, who climbed six places to 35th among T20I batters, and Bangladesh's captain Nigar Sultana, who moved up three positions to 14th. Sri Lanka's Harshitha Samarawickrama reached the 20th position after top-scoring with 69 not out in the final.These rankings highlight the remarkable talent and contributions of these players to their respective teams' successes in the recent Women's T20 Asia Cup.

India's senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma has emphasized the team's strategy of taking each game at a time in the ongoing Women's T20 Asia Cup. She believes that the conditions in Sri Lanka have remained largely unchanged since their previous tour in June 2022.After a resounding 82-run victory over Nepal on Tuesday, India secured their place in the semifinals. Shafali Verma's blistering 81 off 48 balls and Deepti's impressive 3/13 bowling performance were instrumental in the win."From the first game, we've been confident about each match, every situation, and the conditions," Deepti said after the match. "We're looking forward to the semifinals as well."Deepti noted that the pitches and conditions in Sri Lanka have not changed significantly since their last visit. "Nothing has changed," she said. "We're just keeping it simple and focusing on the next match."The right-arm off-spinner has been in top form, leading the bowling charts with eight wickets in three matches. She attributes her success to her willingness to bowl in any situation."I'm always ready to bowl in any kind of situation," Deepti said. "I like to take challenges head-on. I'm enjoying each match, planning accordingly, and applying what we discuss in meetings."Deepti also praised the team's batting unit, which has performed consistently throughout the tournament. "If we win the toss, we take a positive approach from the start," she said. "As a batting unit, we've been doing really well from the first game and we've finished well too."India will now face Thailand in the semifinals on Thursday, October 13. Deepti believes that the team is well-prepared and confident of continuing their winning streak.

India, buoyed by two emphatic victories, will aim to secure a semifinal berth in the 2024 Women's T20 Asia Cup when they face Nepal in their final Group A match on Tuesday.India's dominance has been evident in both batting and bowling. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have provided explosive starts, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh have anchored the middle order. Ghosh's blistering 64 off 29 balls against the UAE propelled India to their highest-ever T20I total of 200+.The bowling unit has been equally impressive, with Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Deepti Sharma leading the charge. Tanuja Kanwar, a replacement for injured Shreyanka Patil, has also impressed with her economical bowling.Nepal, despite their historic win over the UAE, faces an uphill task against India. The Himalayan nation will need a monumental effort to challenge the tournament favorites.

The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan at the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024 is set to kick off the tournament on July 19 in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Here's an in-depth analysis of the match:Recent Form:India has enjoyed a strong run in T20Is over the past year, winning 10 out of 17 matches. They clinched the Asian Games gold and swept Bangladesh 5-0. However, they faced setbacks in series against England and Australia.Pakistan, on the other hand, has struggled in T20Is, winning only seven out of 19 matches. They lost series in Bangladesh, West Indies, and England. Their lone series win came against New Zealand.Head-to-Head Record:India holds a dominant edge in the head-to-head record against Pakistan, winning 11 out of 14 matches. At the Asia Cup, India has won five out of six encounters. However, Pakistan emerged victorious in their last meeting at the 2022 Asia Cup in Sylhet.Players to Watch:For India, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma are key players. Mandhana is a prolific run-scorer with over 3300 T20I runs, while Verma is a destructive opener with a high strike rate.Pakistan's star is captain Nida Dar, an all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball. Sidra Amin has also been in impressive form, scoring 205 runs in eight innings this year.Broadcast Information:In India and Sri Lanka, the Women's Asia Cup 2024 will be telecast on the Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website in India.Conclusion:The India vs Pakistan match at the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2024 promises to be a thrilling encounter. India will be looking to maintain their dominance, while Pakistan will be eager to upset their rivals. With both teams boasting talented players, the match is sure to deliver excitement and drama.