Afghanistan announced power-packed squad for Asia Cup 2023, star all-rounder returns to fold after 6 years

India Maintains Dominance Over Pakistan Despite Hiccups

In a match briefly halted due to bugs, India faced several hiccups throughout. Yet, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team managed to secure an 88-run victory, extending their flawless Women’s ODI record against Pakistan to 12-0.

It’s a common sporting cliché - “Everyone wants to bring their A-game.” Bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi even echoed the same sentiment a day before the India-Pakistan clash, saying the team was in a good space and ready to perform. But on match day at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, India’s game seemed far from A- maybe closer to G or H-marked by several technical and tactical errors. Despite a bug-interrupted match and frequent glitches, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team still managed an 88-run win, maintaining their perfect 12-0 record against Pakistan in women’s ODIs.

After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana chose to bowl first, as the Colombo pitch had been under covers due to rain. She aimed to restrict India to under 250 runs - a target her team managed to meet by bowling India out for 247, their first time doing so in 12 encounters. However, that total still proved too much to chase. Despite Sidra Amin’s fighting 81 giving Pakistan brief hope, the result stayed the same. In the post-match interview, Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that India “still have many areas to improve,” but was pleased her team managed to win comfortably in the end.

Plenty of promising starts, but none turned into big scores

Just like in Guwahati against Sri Lanka, India’s batters found it hard to build momentum. Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues later blamed the pitch, saying it wasn’t easy to bat on at either venue. All of India’s top eight batters got starts, with seven scoring at least 20, but none managed to convert those into big innings.

The top score came from Harleen Deol, who made 46 off 65 balls - an innings that raised more questions than answers. Three partnerships crossed the 40-run mark (48 for the first wicket, 45 for the fourth, and 42 for the sixth), but none were able to turn into a substantial stand.

Smriti Mandhana once again looked out of rhythm at the top, managing just 23 off 32 balls. Pratika Rawal, who had a dream start to her ODI career, seemed to be slowing down - after a sparkling opening with three consecutive fours in Diana Baig’s first over, she lost momentum later. Her stand with Harleen Deol mirrored the Guwahati game, as India once again played nearly 70% of their first 20 overs as dot balls. Even skipper Harmanpreet Kaur found it difficult to find her timing.

India’s innings finally found some rhythm when Jemimah Rodrigues arrived at the crease. Though she had a stroke of luck - getting a reprieve after being dismissed off a no-ball on just 2 - the right-hander injected much-needed energy into the innings. Deepti Sharma also stepped up once again, playing a composed and valuable knock under pressure.

The most impressive batting display for India came from Richa Ghosh, who had been pushed down to No. 8, below Sneh Rana. With Shafali Verma unavailable, Ghosh is the team’s main power-hitter, and she showcased that ability brilliantly in the latter stages. Her standout moment was a stylish lofted inside-out drive over extra cover for six. Ghosh’s unbeaten 35 off 20 balls was easily the most fluent and impactful innings of the match.

Unexpected beginning to the second innings

With 247 on the board and Pakistan never having scored more than 192 in their previous 11 ODIs against India, Harmanpreet’s team were clear favourites at the halfway mark. Yet, India’s sloppy approach in the second half served as a warning for the future. The bowlers, however, were impressive, led by Kranti Goud and the returning Renuka Singh Thakur, who bowled in tandem for the first 15 overs and kept Pakistan under constant pressure.

India’s fielding once again struggled, with Richa Ghosh having a night of contrasts - brilliant behind the stumps at times, but costly lapses at others. She dropped Sidra Amin twice when the batter was on eight and made little impact with the reviews. India wasted a review in the very first over and then missed three more clear LBW chances. There were bright spots, though: Deepti Sharma’s smart run-out of Muneeba Ali and Harmanpreet Kaur’s sharp throw to dismiss Diana Baig stood out. Yet overall, the fielding remained below standard, with India letting at least five straightforward chances slip.

Also Read: India vs Pakistan in 2025 Womens World Cup: Will Rain Spoil the Showdown?

Flawed Performance, Flawless Victory for Harmanpreet’s Side

In the end, Pakistan’s chase never gained momentum, largely due to Kranti Goud, who continues to shine early in her international career. She bowled a sharp delivery that straightened after angling in, forcing opener Sadaf Shamas to play down the wrong line and offering a simple return catch. Goud also shaped one away from Aliya Riaz, inducing an edge to second slip - a position she recommended Harmanpreet maintain throughout the innings.

In her second spell, Goud dismissed Natalia Pervaiz, breaking the only significant partnership Pakistan had managed. Finishing with impressive figures of 3/20 in 10 overs, she walked off not only as Player of the Match but also as the standout performer for India. Beaming after the game, she said, “I feel really proud. The people from my village in Madhya Pradesh would have been happy-they even set up an LED screen to watch the match.”