There was a lot of unnecessary hype and unwanted attention towards the India Women vs Pakistan Women match after the Asia Cup 2025 fiasco. India’s score at 25 overs was 108-3 as Pakistan kept on taking wickets at regular intervals. The Women in Green showed astounding fighting spirit as they clawed their way back in the game.
Smriti Mandhana falls cheaply in powerplay overs
The forecast for the match was very gloomy as there were dark clouds hovering over the stadium. Pakistan thought of taking advantage of the weather and conditions. Smriti Mandhana & Pratika Rawal got their eye in and negated the threat of early swing. Pratika Rawal took the role of aggressor as the star batter Smriti Mandhana took a backseat.
Smriti Mandhana & Pratika Rawal were looking ominous. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana took the mammoth wicket of Smriti Mandhana in the 9th over as she was trapped LBW. Smriti Mandhana who has had a dream run in the last 18 months or so, hasn’t been able to dictate the terms after two low scores against Pakistan. She managed to get 23 runs in 32 balls. India, though, had a good power play with 54-1 in 10 overs.
Pratika Rawal & Harmanpreet Kaur dismissed after promising starts
Pratika Rawal was very much untroubled and unaffected by the dismissal of Smriti Mandhana. The surface was slowly started to deteriorate but the batters used their feet quite brilliantly. Pakistan, though, made sure that they didn’t concede a flurry of boundaries.
Sadia Iqbal took the huge wicket of Pratika Rawal as she clean bowled her. Pratika would rue her shot selection as her knock of 31 runs in 37 balls left some runs for the team. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur & Harleen Deol tried to steady the ship after the score was 67-2 in 15 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur was also dismissed for a low score at 19 runs in 34 balls as Diana Baig got the big fish in the 25th over. Pakistan’s bowling unit hunted in a pack, which was quite unique to se,e as at 25 overs, India’s score was 108-3.
What lies ahead for India & Pakistan
It’s somewhat clear that the surface at Colombo isn’t a 270-300 one. All eyes will be on Harleen Deol who has to convert her start as her score of 32 runs in 46 balls has shown promise but already Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana & Pratika Rawal failed to convert their starts. Pakistan still have a long rally ahead as the best way for Women in Green is to bundle out India below 220 to give themselves a solid chance.