IND-W vs PAK-W Live Cricket Score, India Women vs Pakistan Women LIVE Score: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Today Match

Oh dear, India are forced into one change. Amanjot Kaur, who was one of the stars against Sri Lanka, is out. Harmanpreet Kaur says Amanjot is unwell. Renuka Singh Thakur comes in.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana smiling at the toss. But not quite sure if there was a handshake.

Fatima Sana wins the toss and OPTS TO BOWL FIRST. Hoping to make the most of some moisture on the pitch that has been under covers a lot.

PITCH REPORT BY MBANGWA AND ANJUM: It is not raining. Slight breeze at the venue. Spinners might have a tough time, according to the former India captain.

In July 2017, Pakistan pacer Kainat Imtiaz shared a photo standing alongside Indian legend Jhulan Goswami.

“In 2005, I saw the Indian team for the first time as the Asia Cup was held in Pakistan. I was the ball-picker during the tournament. I saw Jhulan Goswami, the fastest bowler of that time. I was so impressed that I chose cricket as a career, specifically fast bowling. It’s a proud moment for me, as after 12 years today in 2017, I am playing this ODI World Cup with one of my inspirations and getting more inspired.”

Today in Colombo, it is unlikely we will see anything like that.

Aavishkar Salvi on managing workload of pacers: Coming into the tournament, we have around 10 bowling options into the team. So obviously, it’s a long tournament. It’s a 32 – 33-day tournament where we might need the services of any of the bowlers, not just the fast bowlers, but the spinners as well. So as and when the rest is required, the recovery is required, they are into it. As and when the workloads are to be maintained, they are maintaining it. And they have not been doing it just now. They have been doing it for the last probably one – one and a half year now. So, they know their bodies well. We understand what they need to get their A game onto display. So, we are working towards it. Everybody is on the same page.

At 23, leadership responsibilities have been thrust early on Fatima, but the youngster said she is leaning on the experience of the senior teammates. “Actually, their support is very important to me because they always stand by me. They know I have room to make mistakes, and if I do, they help me. Seniors like Sidra (Amin), Aliyah (Riyaz), and even Diana (Baig) always make sure the team stays united. If someone makes a mistake, someone else immediately covers it up. The way our team is right now, and the unity we have – obviously as a young captain it’s challenging, but with their support, I don’t feel it much.”

India have played five women’s ODIs in Colombo, all earlier this year during the Tri Series involving Sri Lanka and South Africa. India won four out of the five matches, losing once against Sri Lanka.

Aavishkar Salvi: When you enter into a big tournament like a World Cup, the area of focus is only cricket. It’s good to have the players into a good space. As you saw in the first game, after that first win, obviously, the team is on a momentum, on a roll, and they have been preparing well. I mean, wherever we are getting an opportunity to practice, they’re practicing. Whenever there are opportunities to discuss about the game plans, they’re discussing that. So, everybody is in a good space where they are working in an ecosystem where they are trying to get their A game onto the day, wherever it is.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana on Saturday refused to read too much into the history of the rivalry. “Whatever records exist between India and Pakistan are meant to be broken,” the allrounder said in the press conference. ‘It’s not that Pakistan will never win against them. We believe in playing good cricket no matter who the opponent is. So we won’t think about past history; we’ll focus only on the day we play.”

“Firstly if you see, we are like a family – we 20–22 people are like one family, so we are not at all focused on what’s going on outside. Obviously, we know what’s happening around us, but we try to stay focused only on the game, because the World Cup is an event every player waits for. We will try to keep our focus on the tournament and on what we have come here for.”

“Of course, it’s a pressure match because of the big crowd. We know that when it’s India vs Pakistan, the whole world is watching, and the fans are watching too. So yes, there is pressure, but the main thing is how we handle it. We’ll try to focus on our game, execute our plans, and play the way we’ve prepared,” she added.

In the history of women’s ODIs, Pakistan have faced India 11 times over the years and have never managed to win. Four of those meetings have come at the ICC Women’s World Cup. In 2017, India won by 95 runs in Derby despite scoring just 169 in 50 overs. In 2022, Pakistan had India in trouble at 114/6 before a 122-run stand from Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana rescued Mithali Raj’s side, who eventually won by 107 runs. In Bowral at the 2009 edition, Pakistan were bundled out for 57 in 29 overs, which India chased down with 10 wickets to spare in just 10 overs. In 2013, Pakistan’s 192/7 was chased down with six wickets and four overs to spare, riding on Mithali’s unbeaten 103. Those numbers are enough to illustrate how one-sided this rivalry has been in the past.

The forecast has gotten significantly better for today and it seems we should be, by all indications, getting a start on time and quite possibly a full match too.

QUESTION:

You mentioned focusing on playing to win, but your past records aren’t in your favour, and even your first match here against Bangladesh didn’t go well. Now facing this Indian lineup, who dominated against Sri Lanka — how do you see that challenge? And any special plans against Smriti Mandhana, considering her current form?

Fatima Sana:

Firstly, whatever records exist between India and Pakistan are meant to be broken. It’s not that Pakistan will never win against them. We believe in playing good cricket no matter who the opponent is. So we won’t think about past history; we’ll focus only on the day we play. And yes, when you play against big teams, you make proper plans for each player. We’ll try our best to execute those plans well and prepare effectively for every opponent.

Despite some jittery batting in their ICC Women’s World Cup opener against co-hosts Sri Lanka, the Indian women’s team managed to win the match by 59 runs (via the DLS Method) earlier this week. It was Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur who starred for India, while Sneh Rana too chipped in with a 15-ball 28.

Deepti had a run-a-ball 53 with the bat first and then took 3 for 54 to disrupt Sri Lanka’s chase. Amanjot Kaur, meanwhile, scored 57 in 56 balls. She shared a 103-run seventh-wicket partnership with Deepti, which rescued India from 124 for 6 at the end of the 27th over.

After that escape against Sri Lanka, India take on the other neightbours, Pakistan, in a neutral setting in Colombo where rain has sealed the fate of the previous fixture, involving Australia and Sri Lanka.

Walking away with two points, India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan will head into the game with deflated spirits after having endured a defeat against Bangladesh in a sluggish affair at the same venue three days ago.

Former India cricketer Saba Karim spoke about Team India’s fielding and fitness levels in a conversation with JioHotstar ahead of the Women’s World Cup clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday.

“In terms of catching efficiency, only New Zealand is right at the top. Even Australia and England haven’t done so well. But the Indian team is constantly trying to improve in this area. From what I’ve seen in practice sessions, the team spends a lot of time, even one-on-one, working on catching. It’s a process that will take some more time, but India’s fitness levels have improved significantly, and better fitness automatically enhances fielding. The team management, especially the fielding coach, is working very hard on this. The goal is to minimize drop-catch percentages, and that will help India remain in contention to lift the World Cup,” said Saba Karim.

Saba Karim on key factors for India to win the Women’s World Cup:

“For India, the biggest challenge or factor would be to sustain good form, both individually, and as a team. For someone like Smriti Mandhana to maintain that level throughout the tournament will be a huge task, because the team will play at different venues against a variety of oppositions. Similarly, it’s the same story for the rest of the players. Experienced players need strong recovery programs so they can maintain peak performance. And there will be pressure because expectations have risen. India is being talked about as a strong contender to lift the World Cup, so that pressure will also build up. But I am confident that, as a team, India can absorb the pressure and enjoy the challenges ahead. These are a few factors essential for India’s success,” former India cricketer Saba Karim said in a conversation with JioHotstar ahead of the Women’s World Cup clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday.

Remember, that India have never won the Women’s World Cup, despite coming close twice by reaching the final.

Saba Karim talks about the pressure of an India vs Pakistan game.

“There will be pressure. That’s why India vs Pakistan has become such a big clash, even in the Women’s World Cup. Otherwise, it wouldn’t matter as much. India has played Pakistan before and generally, done well. But because of the so-called controversies that surround such matches, I’m sure the Indian team management and players have prepared simulations to perform under pressure. The best approach for India and the team management is to remove all outside distractions and focus on the game ahead. I’m confident that, with the experience of the Indian players and support staff, the team will put up a strong performance without being affected by any controversies. That said, I do agree that some pressure will exist for the Indian side,” Saba Karim said in a conversation with JioHotstar ahead of the Women’s World Cup clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday.

As has been pointed out by The Indian Express’ Vinayakk Mohanarangan, there is a heavy possibility of rain wreaking havoc with the India vs Pakistan game at Colombo.

The weather forecast for the capital city of Sri Lanka DOES NOT LOOK GOOD!

If the rain gets washed out, it’s likely that it will be some relief to the players from both sides who are heading for unprecedented scrutiny judging by what we saw in the three Asia Cup games between India and Pakistan, where three whole weeks saw some issue or another.

India have never lost to their neighbours in 11 previous ODI meetings. In fact, the closest margin of victory for India was when they prevailed by six wickets with 24 balls remaining at the 2013 World Cup in Cuttack while chasing, and by 80 runs after batting first in a match back in December 2006.

On Sunday afternoon at the R Premadasa Stadium, when India and Pakistan lock horns in their second matches of the World Cup, this is the record that Harmanpreet Kaur and her side have to protect.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, though, did not want to read too much into these records when asked about it at the pre-match press conference.

“Whatever records exist between India and Pakistan are meant to be broken. It’s not that Pakistan will never win against them. We believe in playing good cricket, no matter who the opponent is. So we won’t think about past history,” Fatima said.

For the fourth Sunday in a row, it’s India vs Pakistan on the cricket field. this time around, rather than Dubai, the game will be held in Colombo in Sri Lanka. And instead of the men’s teams, the women’s teams of India and Pakistan will square off in a match of the Women’s World Cup.

What should we except? More drama for sure. Rain also. And no handshakes.