🏏ICC Women's T20I WC 2024: Group A - Match 7: IndW vs PakW 🏏 - Page 3

Say no more, it is time for India vs Pakistan. While the rivalry holds its significance, generally in women's cricket, the contests have heavily been loaded in India's favour. Having said that, both teams are coming into this game on the back of contrasting results. India suffered a mammoth 58-run loss which has dented their net run rate. Pakistan on the other hand, defended 116 against Sri Lanka after being in a pretty tough spot. Who will come out on top today in this day game? I am Ashish Pant and will soon be joined by S Sudarshanan as we get ready for what is expected to be a fascinating encounter.

There are a few things to look at today, with the heat definitely a factor. It is approximately 37 degrees in Dubai at the moment, and how the players cope with the rising temperature will be key. Will either side make any changes? Pakistan will be sweating on Diana Baig's fitness who in the match against Sri Lanka, only bowled one ball before she pulled up with what looked like a calf injury. It is understood Baig did not train on the eve of the match. India meanwhile might not press the panic button just yet and could go with the same XI. Here's Sruthi Ravindranath with the preview.

Ashar Ali Khan: "3 WT20i wins for Pakistan against India and Nida Dar has been man of the match in 2 of those. Safe to say Pakistan W will once again be looking for Dar's magic with both bat and ball in today's contest"

Dhaval : "Somewhat don't feel the same zest for this India vs Pakistan. But an important match for India. They would want to win this with a bigger margin to make NRR count for later stages."

Harmanpreet Kaur's team are already in 'must win territory' having lost their opener. They have a splendid head-to-head record against Pakistan, winning 12 of the 15 T20I games played against them so far. However, the pressure of a crunch T20I game could feel very different, all the more when a lot of the Indian top-order seem to be misfiring. Pakistan on the other hand made a very positive start to the competition, defending a low score of 116 in their opener against Sri Lanka. There seems to be some fiery energy amongst themselves under the captaincy of 22-year-old Fatima Sana, and they couldn't have asked for a better time to face off against India. Both sides are still trying to adjust to conditions in the UAE, and whoever reads the conditions quicker in the sweltering afternoon heat of Dubai could end up winning this contest. We're not too far from the toss on this iconic clash, stick around...

India vs Pakistan in Dubai at a T20 World Cup would elicit very strong and very differing emotions depending on which side of the border you belong. And that's what is in store today afternoon in the T20 Women's World Cup, as an Indian side that was thwarted by New Zealand in their opening game, look to bounce back against a high flying Pakistan side.

India vs Pakistan has never quite cut it as the rivalry in women's cricket. But the ground reality is this: the twin shockwaves from Pakistan's opening-night upset of a more fancied Sri Lanka side and India's sensational unravelling against New Zealand have added a significant dash of spice to Sunday afternoon's primetime blockbuster, writes Shashank Kishore.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has the coin. Fatima Sana calls heads, and it is a head. Pakistan will bat first.

Fatima Sana: Diana is out. She is well, she is under treatment. We want to win this match. We will try to put a good score. I am very excited for this game.

Harmanpreet Kaur: We were also looking to bat. We have a good opportunity We have one change, Pooja is not playing. She has a small niggle. This stage we have to look forward with a positive approach. Always about how we bunce back. We just want to play positive cricket.

TOSS - Pakistan Women have won the toss and they will BAT first.

Pakistan Women (Playing XI) - Muneeba Ali Siddiqi (WK), Gull Feroza, Sidra Amin, Omaima Sohail, Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana Khan (C), Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Syeda Aroob Shah (In for Diana Baig).

India Women (Playing XI) - Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Sajana Sajeevan (In for Pooja Vastrakar), Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh Thakur

Pitch report from Mel Jones and Anjum Chopra: If there is one word for Dubai, it is consistent, 37 degrees is the temperature. We are on pitch no. 5 from pitch 3. There is a metre difference at either side. There is hardly a breeze which will make it challenging for the players. It is reasonably dry right at the end. Again, it is a challenging pitch. There is a lot of dryness in the surface. The downswing of the batters needs to be adjusted. Because the pitch is providing the assistance with the grass covering, it might hold up. That might not be the easiest to counter. Don't think it is going to be a high scoring encounter.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: 1 Muneeba Ali (wk), 2 Gull Feroza, 3 Sidra Amin, 4 Nida Dar, 5 Aliya Riaz, 6 Omaima Sohail, 7 Fatima Sana (capt), 8 Tuba Hassan, 9 Nashra Sandhu, 10 Aroob Shah, 11 Sadia Iqbal

India: 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 4 Jemimah Rodrigues, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Arundhati Reddy, 8 S Sajana, 9 Shreyanka Patil, 10 Asha Sobhana, 11 Renuka Singh