India Women will face Bangladesh Women in the 2nd Semi-Final of the Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition 2026 at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on September 20. The defending champions entered the knockout stage after a commanding eight-wicket win over Japan, and three players who made a strong impact in that quarterfinal will be key names to watch against Bangladesh, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh and N Sree Charani.
Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma remains one of India’s most dangerous attacking batters in T20I cricket, and her ability to change the game in the first few overs makes her a key player to watch in the semi-final. She comes into the contest after an unbeaten 40 off just 15 balls against Japan, including six fours and two sixes, as India chased down 58 in only five overs.
That innings was another addition to an excellent recent run. Shafali had scored 68 off 39 balls against Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup final just five days earlier, after making 64 off 40 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup semi-final. Her T20I career had already crossed the 3,000-run mark earlier this month, and she now has 3,117 runs in 117 T20Is, with a strike rate in excess of 139.34 and 19 half-centuries. She also became the youngest player to reach 3,000 Women’s T20I runs.
Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh provides India with another attacking option, particularly in the middle and lower-middle order. The wicketkeeper-batter has built a reputation around aggressive strokeplay and the ability to score quickly when the innings needs momentum. Richa also contributed in India’s most recent match against Japan, scoring an unbeaten 12 off six balls, including two fours, as India completed the chase in five overs. Her recent T20I form also includes 17 off 13 against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final and 21 off 16 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup semi-final.
In T20I cricket, Richa has scored 1394 runs in 94 matches at an average of 26.80 and a strike rate of 143.41, with the highest score of 47. She has hit 64 fours and 18 sixes in the format. Her ability to accelerate late in the innings makes Richa Ghosh an important component of India’s batting depth. She also adds value behind the wickets, giving India an experienced wicketkeeper in a high-pressure Asian Games semi-final.
N Sree Charani
While Shafali and Richa can influence the game with the bat, Sree Charani has emerged as one of India’s biggest weapons with the ball. The left-arm orthodox spinner produced a sensational performance against Japan in the quarter-final, taking 4/10 from four overs, including two maiden overs, as Japan were bowled out for 57. The figures are also Charani’s best in T20I cricket. The spell came immediately after an outstanding Women’s Asia Cup campaign. Charani had taken 4/20 against Sri Lanka in the final, following figures of 1/14 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup semi-final.
She finished the Asia Cup with 12 wickets and subsequently moved to the top of the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings with a career-best 804 rating points. Charani’s current T20I numbers stand at 31 matches and 58 wickets, with a bowling average of 13.09, an economy rate of 6.53 and a strike rate of 12.02. Her best figures are now 4/10, achieved against Japan in the Asian Games quarter-final. Her recent numbers against Bangladesh also make for interesting reading. Charani took 1/14 in four overs when India faced Bangladesh in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final on September 10.
With Bangladesh standing between India and another Asian Games final, the performances of Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh and Shree Charani will be closely watched when the second semi-final gets underway at Nisshin.
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Source: femalecricket.com
