India's Deepti Sharma has expressed confidence ahead of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 clash against Pakistan scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026, in Dubai. The match comes after India secured their place in the semi-finals with victories over Thailand and Hong Kong in the tournament's opening phase.
Sharma, who recently played her 150th T20I match during India's opening game against Thailand on September 1, 2026, is in a strong position as the team prepares for the high-stakes encounter.
India holds
a commanding head-to-head record against Pakistan in T20I cricket, with 14 victories from 17 meetings as of September 4, 2026. The two nations have a storied rivalry, and their upcoming match will mark the 18th T20I encounter between them.
India's recent form includes a 64-run victory over Pakistan in the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup in Birmingham, where Deepti Sharma took five wickets, and Smriti Mandhana scored 68. Speaking ahead of the Pakistan match, Sharma reflected on India's consistent performance against their rivals.
"Look, there is no advantage as such. The only thing is that whatever we have won against them (Pakistan), whether it’s the Asia Cup or any other matches, we are always one step ahead of them," Sharma said in a press conference.
The all-rounder highlighted the balanced nature of India's squad, emphasising the contributions from both batting and bowling units. Deepti noted that the team's strength lies in the ability of individual players to step up when required. She explained that the collective performance across all departments had been the key to India's success in the tournament.
"And that is it. The whole team is performing well. If you look at the bowling unit or the batting unit, I think both things are balanced. The one who has a good day, she tries to do better and take the game further," Sharma concluded.
India's balanced squad strength
Sharma's statement underscores India's track record of success in bilateral encounters with Pakistan. The Indian team has demonstrated consistent excellence across multiple formats and tournaments.
Deepti's confidence stems from the team's recent performances, including their dominant displays in the Asia Cup group stage. India defeatedHong Kong by 137 runs on September 3, 2026, with Smriti Mandhana scoring 124, showcasing the batting depth and bowling strength available to captain Harmanpreet Kaur's side.
Pakistan, meanwhile, remained in contention for the semi-finals following an opening victory against Thailand. However, the side showed persistent batting vulnerabilities, with the team being 25 for 3 during the powerplay before defending 119 against Thailand.
