The ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 is underway in Thailand and the BCCI has sent an India A team to the competition, under the leadership of Radha Yadav. Coming into the event, one would have expected India A to be the strongest among the lot, given their prowess, but that was not to be.
IND A stunned by UAE
The IND A team went on to lose their opening fixture to UAE side, in what can be called a major upset. In fact, the UAE team under Esha Oza won quite comfortably while chasing 131 only. The skipper, Oza went on to score 72 from 61 deliveries, getting past the finish line, with four deliveries to spare.
IND A batted first came up with poor show. Anushka Sharma scored 47 form 45, while Tanuja Kanwer scored 34, but other than that it was a total disaster on the batting front. At one stage they were reduced to 93/7 and even 120 seemed impossible. Come the chase, apart from Esha Oza, Samaira Dharnidharka scored 34, that was enough for UAE on the day.
Esha Oza shine for UAE
On bowling front, there was nothing exceptional from the Indian bowlers. Yes, they were economical but that hardly made any difference to UAE’s plans. Meanwhile, the tournament also has Pakistan A, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh A, and Sri Lanka A. So IND can still make amends.
Now, IND A play their next match vs PAK A in Bangkok on Feb 15, the same day as IND vs PAK T20 World Cup clash in Colombo. PAK A had won their opening encounter against Nepal on Feb 12.
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