"Happy The Way Things Are Going": Harmanpreet Kaur Reacts As India Storm Into Asia Cup Final

By Suresh

*The Rhythm of a Team Moving as One* Just like a well-composed raga, a cricket team finds its groove when every element plays its part. And that is precisely what India's women displayed on Thursday, storming into the Women's T20 Asia Cup final with a composed 40-run win over Bangladesh at Dubai. **India set the tempo first** Batting first on a pitch that offered plenty to the spinners, India posted 149/6. Shafali Verma, the Player of the Match, set the rhythm with an explosive 64 off 40 balls. Behind her, small but meaningful partnerships from Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma added depth. The total looked modest on the board, but it was exactly what the surface demanded. **Spinners took control** Bangladesh, asked to chase, found themselves in a tight spot. Deepti Sharma led the spin attack with crisp figures of 3/26, while Shree Charani added 1/14. The visitors were bowled out for 109/7, and India marched into the final. **The captain's view** Harmanpreet Kaur, delighted with the all-round performance, spoke of balance and value: > "Happy the way things are going. There was value to the good balls. If you were giving revs, you were losing value. The spinners used the pitch really well; the batters had it hard." She especially praised the impact of the small partnerships, noting how Richa's valued shots and Deepti's breakthroughs shifted the game. **Shafali on the grind** For Shafali, the humid Dubai conditions were a test of composure more than technique: > "Very humid out there. Sometimes I couldn't even breathe, but I had to relax. I know it's my job to hit sixes and fours in the powerplay, so I tried to do that." **Bangladesh reflect** Captain Nigar Sultana was candid about a day that slipped away. Her side had bowled well in earlier games but couldn't capitalise today: > "We didn't bowl well, unlike the last three games. We put down chances. Next time we want to play a more all-out game." **What's next** India now turn their eyes to the final, where they will face the winner of the Sri Lanka–Pakistan clash. A strong campaign continues, and the melody of this team is only just finding its peak. Source: NDTV Sports