IND W vs PAK W: When India Women take on Pakistan Women, it’s never just another cricket match — it’s an emotional roller coaster for fans across both nations. The latest IND W vs PAK W encounter in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 proved once again why this rivalry remains one of the fiercest in cricket. From pre-match tension to outstanding performances, the contest had every ingredient of a blockbuster.
Pre-Match Drama: No Handshake, Only Focus
The intensity began right from the toss when India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana refused to shake hands — a move that instantly became viral. The incident mirrored the men’s World Cup drama earlier in the year, showing that even before the first ball, the rivalry had reached boiling point.
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first, hoping to put runs on the board and challenge India under lights. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, and both teams entered the field fired up for a high-stakes showdown.
Pakistan Innings: Fast Start, Sudden Collapse
Pakistan’s opening pair started confidently, scoring briskly in the powerplay. However, India’s disciplined bowling attack soon began to dominate. Youngster Renuka Singh Thakur struck early, removing the top order and setting the tone.
In the middle overs, Pratika Rawal created the moment of the match — smashing three consecutive boundaries off Diana Baig in a stunning display of confidence. The crowd erupted as India’s momentum surged.
But Pakistan’s innings began to unravel quickly. From 70/2, they slipped to 115/7 as spinners Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad choked the scoring rate and took crucial wickets. The middle order’s inability to rotate strike and handle India’s spin pressure cost them dearly.
Pakistan eventually finished with a modest total of 158 all out in 43.4 overs — far below what they had aimed for.
India’s Chase: Early Jitters, Confident Finish
Chasing 159, India’s innings didn’t start smoothly. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana fell cheaply, leaving India at 25/2. Pakistan sensed an opening, but Harmanpreet Kaur once again rose to the occasion.
The Indian skipper played a calm and composed innings, anchoring one end while rotating strike cleverly. Her partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues steadied the chase. Jemimah’s timing through the covers and Harmanpreet’s placement made it look effortless as the required run rate remained under control.
When Harmanpreet reached her fifty, India were comfortably placed at 120/3. A few late wickets tried to add spice, but India crossed the finish line with five wickets and 8.2 overs remaining. The victory was emphatic and emotional, continuing India’s unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan.
Top Performers
Player Performance Impact
Harmanpreet Kaur (IND) 63 (74) Anchored the chase, led by example
Pratika Rawal (IND) 3 fours in an over + tight bowling Game-changing all-round impact
Renuka Singh (IND) 3/28 Early breakthroughs that broke Pakistan’s rhythm
Deepti Sharma (IND) 2/30 Controlled middle overs with spin pressure
Fatima Sana (PAK) 2/36 Pakistan’s best bowler on the day
Key Turning Points
- Renuka’s early double strike — put Pakistan on the back foot immediately.
- Pratika Rawal’s hat-trick of fours — lifted India’s confidence and crowd energy.
- Deepti Sharma’s spin spell — tightened control and triggered the middle-order collapse.
- Harmanpreet’s calm chase — ensured no panic despite early wickets.
- Pakistan’s dropped catches — cost them crucial momentum in the field.
India’s Dominance Continues
With this victory, India extended their unbeaten streak against Pakistan in ICC women’s events. The team’s blend of youth and experience — featuring talents like Pratika Rawal and seasoned stars like Harmanpreet and Deepti — looks strong heading deeper into the tournament.
India’s focus now shifts to their next group match, but this win will give them huge confidence. The calm, clinical approach of the bowlers and the maturity shown by the captain mark India as serious title contenders.
What Pakistan Can Learn
For Pakistan, this defeat highlighted key areas needing improvement:
Building partnerships under pressure.
Improving middle-order consistency.
Fielding sharper and holding key catches.
The bowling unit performed admirably in patches, but without adequate batting support, defending 158 against India was always going to be difficult.
India Women will face Australia Women in their next match — a contest likely to decide the group’s top spot. Pakistan, on the other hand, will aim to bounce back strongly against Sri Lanka Women.
As the Women’s World Cup 2025 heats up, one thing is certain — India vs Pakistan matches will always be more than just cricket. They are about pride, emotion, and unforgettable moments.
Final Result:
India Women beat Pakistan Women by 5 wickets
Player of the Match: Harmanpreet Kaur (63 off 74 balls)