IND vs PAK, Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Between rivalry and rain, India and Pakistan set for another chapter

It surprises no one that the World Cup league clash between India and Pakistan is more about the gestures or lack thereof outside the 22 yards than anything that’s done on it.

Much like the temperature levels in the Sri Lankan capital in the days leading up to the fixture, the anticipation of a fourth round of Indo-Pak cricket (three caustic clashes already gifted by the recently concluded Men’s Asia Cup) brought in a big pack of foreign reporters and something World Cup-oblivious locals too know of. 

The numbers of this rivalry immediately dampen any expectations of a fist fight. An 11-0 advantage to India in the format is hardly the tussle to match the geopolitical strains of this fixture. Come Sunday, both teams will want to insulate themselves from the outside noise with two crucial points up for grabs.

Pakistan’s seven-wicket loss to Bangladesh at the same venue a few days ago exposed the chinks of inconsistency in a fairly in-form batting lineup. The side will hope to bury the ghosts of that horror show as it faces a diverse and hungry Indian attack.

Renuka Singh Thakur was rested in India’s rain-interrupted 59-run win against Sri Lanka in Guwahati. While the early swing seen at the R. Premadasa Stadium in the previous fixture will suit her early striking tendencies, India has the depth and the spin prowess to afford her more rest. 

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Pakistan’s 192 for seven is its highest score against India, registered during the 2013 ODI World Cup in Cuttack, which may be child’s play for a side dealing in 300-plus marks. The venue is particularly special for Sneh Rana, who, on her ODI comeback after two years, finished as player of the series for India in the tri-series involving Sri Lanka and South Africa. 

Worryingly, the Australia vs Sri Lanka fixture, slotted on Saturday, was abandoned without a ball bowled due to persistent rains. With cloudy skies and thunderstorms on the cards on Sunday too, one will hope to see as much cricket as possible in one of the most-awaited fixtures of the World Cup. 

Published on Oct 04, 2025