India will go into Saturday’s Women’s Asia Cup clash against Pakistan in Dubai with momentum, qualification and recent history on their side, but Deepti Sharma’s reading of the contest was blunt. The India all-rounder said her team’s edge over Pakistan in recent meetings has come from being “always one step ahead” and from sticking to its plans.
That record is hard to miss. India are unbeaten against Pakistan in women’s ODIs, while their last defeat to them in T20Is came in the Women’s Asia Cup in October 2022. Pakistan have beaten India only three times in 17 matches. When the sides met in the T20 World Cup 2026, India won comfortably, with Deepti producing one of the defining spells of the game as she took five wickets for 10 runs in four overs.
Speaking before the Group A fixture, Deepti said India’s recent success against Pakistan had come less from any psychological advantage and more from execution.
“Look, there is no advantage as such. The only thing is that whatever we have won against them (Pakistan), whether it is the Asia Cup or any other matches, we are always one step ahead of them. And that’s it,” Deepti said at the pre-match press conference, as quoted by PTI.
“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. And those around her, they try to stay positive things so that they step in more in their game.” India have already sealed a place in the semi-finals and sit on top of the table after convincing wins over Thailand and Hong Kong, which leaves them heading into the Pakistan game with the pressure largely off.
Asked specifically about Pakistan, Deepti did not offer much in the way of opposition analysis. Instead, she brought the focus back to India’s own methods.
“Look, our team is also good and their bowlers are also good. We know that. But we focus more on the strengths we have. And as I said, we want to play a good brand of cricket. That’s what we are focusing on.”
“We just want to play good cricket. As a bowling unit, as a batting unit, the team should be as compact as we are playing in two games. That’s the mindset,” said Deepti.
LEADER OF THE SPIN DEPARTMENT
Deepti has been one of the tournament’s most effective bowlers so far, taking six wickets in two matches at an average of 1.5. India’s spin effort, though, has not rested on her alone. Sree Charani and Prema Rawat have backed her up with six wickets between them, giving India control and depth through the middle overs.
As the senior spinner in the side, Deepti said she had tried to pass on as much as she could. She was especially strong in her praise for Charani.
“Charani is a very good talent. He is number one in the rankings. She has performed very well in the last year. The way she turns the ball, unbelievable. It’s not easy to play for a batter.
“It’s the same with Prema. She has not played so many matches. But whenever she gets a chance to bowl, she is always one step ahead. It’s like ‘I have to find breakthroughs for the team’.”
“I have tried to help them as much as I can in the ground and in the nets, and share my experience with them. Being a senior player, I help them as much as I can.”
India are already through to the semi-finals and will be aiming to finish the group stage on a high by continuing their fine form.
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