India has the wherewithal to come up trumps in women’s T20 Asia Cup: Raman

As India looks to regain the women’s T20 Asia Cup, former head coach W.V. Raman backed the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side to triumph in the continental event that starts in the UAE on Friday.

India had a disappointing campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup earlier this year, crashing out in the group stage.

“I think that will spur them on to try and regain the Asia Cup because they are smarting from a performance that was unexpected given the squad and the expectations that everybody had,” said Raman.

“I think this is a tournament that they will win because they have the wherewithal. This will also be a chance for them to start preparations for the next T20 World Cup.”

On the squad, the former India opener reckoned that the batting looks slightly weak compared to the World Cup squad in the absence of Jemimah Rodrigues.

“Maybe they could have thought of bringing in a couple of new medium-pacers, but that hasn’t happened. They’ve gone in heavily with spinners. You have Bharti Fulmali coming back, and she’s yet to prove her credentials, even though she’s got the reputation of being a big hitter of a cricket ball,” he added.

While India won the ODI World Cup last year, the team has been inconsistent in T20Is, and the 61-year-old felt that it hasn’t clicked as a unit.

“I have felt that Deepti Sharma has to deliver more as a batter because she’s got the ability. She does that in other leagues across the world. Also, maybe Harmanpreet can bat at No. 3. If she can get more time, it will help her pace her innings better. It’s just a question of them succeeding as a unit. I think that’s what has not, perhaps, happened,” said Raman.

(Watch Women’s Asia Cup 2026 live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD and Sony LIV).