Sharmin Akhter: Bangladesh Must Believe They Can Beat India to Win Asia Cup

Bangladesh Face Major Test Against India

Bangladesh are preparing for one of their biggest challenges of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 as they take on India in the semi-final at the Dubai International Stadium. Ahead of the knockout contest, batter Sharmin Akhter Supta has made it clear that belief will be just as important as execution.

For Sharmin, Bangladesh cannot realistically think about becoming Asian champions unless they are prepared to overcome India. She believes the team must enter the contest convinced that an upset is possible rather than being intimidated by India's reputation.

Belief Is Essential for a Title Challenge

Sharmin's message to her teammates is straightforward: if Bangladesh want to win the tournament, they must believe they can defeat the strongest teams in the competition.

India could stand between Bangladesh and the final, but Sharmin believes that is precisely the kind of challenge a championship-winning team must overcome. Whether India are encountered in a semi-final or a final, Bangladesh will eventually have to produce a performance against a top opponent.

2018 Provides Bangladesh With Inspiration

Bangladesh have a historic example to draw confidence from. During the 2018 Women's Asia Cup, they defeated India in the group stage and then repeated the achievement in the final in Malaysia to lift the trophy.

Sharmin believes that campaign remains proof that Bangladesh can overcome India when their preparation, confidence and execution come together on the right day.

Recent Record Favours India

The challenge this time is considerably greater when the recent head-to-head record is considered. Since the 2018 Asia Cup final, Bangladesh and India have met 13 times in women's T20Is, with Bangladesh winning only once while India have taken 12 victories.

That record highlights India's dominance in recent years, but Sharmin does not believe past results should decide a knockout match before it begins.

India's Batting Strength Recognised

Sharmin acknowledged that India possess a formidable batting unit. Bangladesh, meanwhile, have traditionally relied heavily on their bowling attack to put opponents under pressure.

Her belief is that Bangladesh can make the contest competitive if their bowlers perform at their best and the batting group produces a stronger contribution than it has managed in some of their recent games.

Bangladesh Want a Complete Performance

Bangladesh's route to the semi-final was not straightforward. They were restricted to just 103 for seven against the United Arab Emirates after losing wickets regularly.

However, their bowling attack responded brilliantly. Bangladesh defended the modest total and eventually secured a 34-run victory, confirming their place in the last four.

Sharmin's Important Contribution Against UAE

Sharmin was one of the key players in that crucial victory. She scored 38 from 31 deliveries, including three boundaries, and helped Bangladesh recover from a difficult position.

She also shared a valuable partnership with Nahida Akter, which helped Bangladesh reach a total that ultimately proved defendable on a slow Dubai surface.

Nahida Sees Room for Batting Improvement

Nahida Akter admitted that Bangladesh's batting performance against UAE was below their potential. The team lost six wickets for 55 runs before the lower order helped them recover.

According to Nahida, the playing conditions have made stroke-making difficult, with the surface offering a slower pace than batters would ideally prefer. She believes a score around 120 to 130 can be highly competitive on such a wicket.

Bangladesh Were Around 10-15 Runs Short

Despite winning the match, Nahida felt Bangladesh could have added another 10 to 15 runs. That assessment becomes particularly important before facing India, whose batting depth can punish even small mistakes.

Bangladesh's batting group will therefore be expected to improve its shot selection and build stronger partnerships in the semi-final.

Bowling Remains Bangladesh's Major Weapon

The biggest positive from the UAE game was the way Bangladesh's bowlers defended 103. Their disciplined attack restricted UAE to 69 for nine from 20 overs.

Rabeya Khan led the bowling effort with three wickets, while Marufa Akter and Nahida Akter also made important contributions. The performance demonstrated that Bangladesh have the bowling resources to challenge opponents if they can post a competitive total.

Sharmin Not Overthinking India's Reputation

Sharmin also explained that she does not want to spend too much time thinking about individual Indian bowlers or the stature of the opposition. According to her approach, the focus should remain on the plans prepared for the match and how effectively those plans are executed.

She believes cricket can change quickly on a single day. Even a leading bowler can have an ordinary outing, while an unexpected player can produce a match-changing spell.

Knockout Cricket Requires a Different Mindset

With the tournament entering the semi-final stage, Sharmin feels the identity of the opponent becomes less important than the quality of execution. Bangladesh need to play with freedom while reducing unforced mistakes.

The objective, in her view, should be to enjoy the occasion, remain composed and compete purely for victory rather than becoming distracted by India's reputation.

Bangladesh Believe an Upset Is Possible

Bangladesh's recent record against India may make them underdogs, but Sharmin insists that history should not eliminate their ambition. The memory of the 2018 Asia Cup provides the team with evidence that India can be beaten in high-pressure matches.

For Bangladesh, the challenge is now to reproduce that belief nearly eight years later against an Indian side with considerably greater depth and experience.

India Bring Heavy Expectations

India enter the semi-final as one of the tournament's leading sides and will carry the expectation of progressing to the final. Their batting strength is particularly well known, something Bangladesh's bowling unit will have to counter from the beginning.

Bangladesh will therefore need to strike a balance between attacking India and avoiding the kind of mistakes that can quickly put a knockout game beyond their reach.

A Strong Start Could Be Crucial

Bangladesh's batting approach could determine how competitive the semi-final becomes. Losing early wickets against India would place significant pressure on the middle and lower order.

On the other hand, if Sharmin, Nahida and the rest of the batting group can build a solid platform, Bangladesh's bowlers could have enough runs to apply pressure on India's batters.

Sharmin Wants Bangladesh to Play Without Fear

The Bangladesh batter's message ahead of the semi-final is ultimately about confidence. She accepts that India are a major force in Asian women's cricket but does not believe that reputation should affect Bangladesh's mindset.

Her focus is on preparation, execution and taking advantage of whatever opportunities appear during the match.

2018 Success Still Inspires the Team

The 2018 Asia Cup remains one of the strongest reminders of Bangladesh's ability to challenge India. Defeating the same opponent twice in that tournament gave Bangladesh their historic title.

Sharmin hopes that memory can provide motivation rather than pressure as the current team attempts to reach another Asia Cup final.

Bangladesh Need Batting and Bowling to Click Together

The UAE victory showed that Bangladesh's bowling attack can compensate for a modest batting total, but India represent a much tougher challenge. The team will need contributions in both departments.

A competitive score followed by disciplined bowling could give Bangladesh an opportunity to put India under pressure. Anything less could make the task considerably harder.

Semi-Final Could Define Bangladesh's Campaign

Bangladesh have already survived a tense qualification battle to reach the last four. Their victory over UAE confirmed their semi-final place, but the biggest test of their campaign now awaits.

Against India, Bangladesh will need the belief Sharmin has spoken about, combined with disciplined execution across all phases of the game.

Sharmin's Message Ahead of the Clash

The Bangladesh batter believes there is little value in entering a knockout match worrying about the size of the opposition. Instead, the team must trust its own strengths and execute its plans under pressure.

If Bangladesh can match their bowling quality with a significantly improved batting display, Sharmin believes they have a genuine chance of producing another memorable result against India.

Match Details

Match: India Women vs Bangladesh Women, Women's Asia Cup 2026 Semi-Final

Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai

Date: September 10, 2026

Bangladesh's route to the semi-final: 34-run victory over UAE

Bangladesh's key batting performance vs UAE: Sharmin Akhter — 38 off 31 balls

Key bowling performance vs UAE: Rabeya Khan — 3/14