Women's Asia Cup 2022: What to expect from India in the tournament?

Team India in action [PC: Twitter]

It has been a memorable couple of months for the Indian Women's cricket team. After fighting their way through to the Commonwealth Games final, the Women in Blue recorded a remarkable series victory against their English counterparts in their backyard. 

Now moving forward to the Women's Asia Cup, Indian fans as well as experts have high hopes for the Indian team. So, let's analyse what we can expect from team India in the multinational tournament. 

Harmanpreet Kaur: A leader in the truest sense

Kaur has enjoyed sublime batting form recently [PC: Twitter]

If you compare team India with the other teams, you would realise that many of them have established superstars, while India are still in a transition. However, what Harmanpreet Kaur has in her armour is a bunch of highly talented individuals with the calibre to shell-shock even the bests in business. 

But to bring the best out of these raw talents is what considered a true leader's job. And obviously, Harmanpreet has succeeded in doing that time and again on the biggest stage. 

From leading from the front to backing her troops both on and off the field, Harmanpreet has done it all. So, this Asia Cup will undoubtedly serve as another testimony to her incredible leadership credentials and place her among the most celebrated skippers of all time. 

Renuka Singh Thakur: The successor of a talisman

Renuka Thakur celebrating a dismissal [PC: Twitter]

Entire India mourned the retirement of the legendary Jhulan Goswami not long ago. But the way Renuka Singh Thakur has shown the promise with the ball must have relieved the fans of this cricket-crazy nation. 

The prodigy brought the mighty Aussies down on their knees through a sensational spell of swing bowling amidst the loudest cheers in Birmingham in the CWG 2022. Going a step further, she dismantled the English batting order to ensure India's historic whitewash at the iconic Lord's a month later. 

The youngster has already tasted unparalleled success in her brief 21-matches-long career. Looking at her immense potential, it's pretty evident that India's pace baton is in safe hands, and this Asia Cup will only allow her to officially be India's new pace bowling in-charge. 

Sensational Smriti: A death warrant for the opponents

Smriti Mandhana in action [PC: Twitter]

Millions of budding talents dream of representing India on the biggest stage. But only a few succeed in doing so, and even fewer sign off with leaving a legacy behind. 

The way Smriti Mandhana has shaped her career makes it unimaginable for me the heights she will achieve in the coming years. Her rise from a rookie to a maestro has been inspirational, to say the least. 

The stylish southpaw recently scripted her name as the third-fastest Indian batter to 3000 ODI runs in Women's Cricket. And considering her red hot form, we definitely expect Smriti to guide India to glory in the Asia Cup. 

Apart from the aforementioned names, the presence of utility cricketers like Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia, Meghna Singh etc., makes India a team to beat in the multi-team affair. Taking the strengths of India and their opponents into account, we expect the former to lift the trophy. But their approach to the title should be ruthless, as it has recently been.

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