India won by 94 and still have a batting problem, and Hong Kong are next in Dubai
The margin against Thailand was 94 runs. The collapse buried inside it is the thing worth worrying about, and Pakistan are two days away.
Sep 3, 2026
India play Hong Kong in Dubai on Thursday night and, on the face of it, the result is not in question. India won their opening Group A match by 94 runs. Hong Kong lost theirs by six.
What matters is what India do with the two hours. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side face Pakistan on Saturday, and the batting they produced against Thailand would not survive that.
Seven wickets for 29 runs
India were 91 for 2 against Thailand on August 30 and finished on 159 for 9. Seven wickets fell for 46 runs. Shafali Verma had done the hard part before that, 64 from 36 balls with eight fours and three sixes for her 19th T20I fifty. Then Smriti Mandhana was run out, Suleeporn Laomi’s leg spin went through the middle for 3 for 26, and Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet and Bharti Fulmali all got starts without turning them into anything.
The bowlers covered it. Thailand were dismissed for 65 in 16.1 overs, with Deepti Sharma taking 3 for 0 in her 150th T20I. A 94-run win reads like a stroll. India’s own innings was not one.
Hong Kong are not a free hit
Hong Kong lost their opener to Thailand by six runs on August 28, chasing 121 and finishing on 114 for 7. Marina Lamplough took 4 for 11 and then hit 22 from 11 balls, which was nearly enough by itself. Kary Chan top-scored with 28 from 20.
That is a side that competed for the full 40 overs rather than one that folded, and Lamplough against India’s top order is the contest to watch early. India should still win comfortably. The question is whether the middle order gets any time in the middle before Saturday, or whether Shafali and Mandhana simply end it inside 12 overs and leave everyone else padded up.
The group is heading for Saturday
India lead Group A on two points with a net run rate of 4.700. Pakistan are second on two points, Thailand third, and Hong Kong are bottom without a win. Two teams from each group go through to the semi-finals.
India face Pakistan in Dubai on Saturday, and that is the game the group turns on. Thursday is the rehearsal.
When and where to watch
The match starts at 8:00 PM IST at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. It is live on Sony Sports Ten 1 and streaming on Sony LIV.