India vs Pakistan are set to renew their cricket rivalry this time in the Women’s World Cup on Sunday. India holds a dominant record against Pakistan, having won all 11 previous ODI encounters, including three victories in the Asia Cup.
India began their World Cup campaign with a strong win, while Pakistan stumbled in their opener against Bangladesh. Historically, Pakistan has never beaten India in women’s ODI cricket, and current form suggests that India once again enter as firm favorites.
However, before the match even begins, controversy looms large. Reports suggest that India’s players will not shake hands with Pakistan’s team, stirring debate ahead of the high-voltage clash. Adding to the tension, rain forecasts in Colombo could also play spoilsport, much like the Australia–Sri Lanka match that was washed out without a toss on Saturday.
India vs Pakistan
In their last World Cup meeting, a touching post-match moment captured hearts worldwide — Indian players were seen playing with Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof’s six-month-old daughter, a gesture that transcended rivalry and symbolized sportsmanship.
On the field, India’s balance and depth make them the stronger side. In their opening win over Sri Lanka, Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma led a resilient lower-order fightback. The spin trio of Sneh Rana, Sri Charni, and Deepti Sharma remains in top form, posing a major threat to Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Pakistan, meanwhile, continue to struggle with consistency. They were dismissed for just 129 runs against Bangladesh, exposing a fragile batting order. Still, Sidra Amin and Muniba Ali offer hope Sidra, in particular, has been impressive recently with scores of 121, 122, and 50** against South Africa, though her performance in Sri Lanka has been disappointing.
India vs Pakistan: Probable XIs
| Team | Players |
|---|---|
| India | Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gowda, Sri Charni |
| Pakistan | Muniba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Alia Riaz, Natalia Parvez, Fatima Sana (c), Ramin Shamim, Diana Baig, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal |
Weather Outlook
The northeast monsoon has already hit Colombo, and weather conditions remain uncertain. With heavy rain likely, the fate of the India vs Pakistan match may ultimately depend on the skies.