🏏India Women vs Pakistan Women: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 🏏

🏏India Women vs Pakistan Women: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 🏏

Pakistan Women have won the toss and have opted to bat

India will be without their star opener Smriti Mandhana for this opening game after she sustained a finger injury.

Nevertheless, there is plenty of depth on the batting front, with big hitters like Harmanpreet Kaur, Pooja Vastarkar and Deepti Sharma in their middle-order, alongside elegant stroke makers like Jemimah and Harleen Deol.

They will also be bolstered by the addition of U19 victors Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh to their side. Bowling however could be an area of concern, and a lot might depend of how a returning Shikha Pandey fares at this WC.

Stick around for the toss and team news now....

However, these high octane clashes against historical rivals are more a matter of who can hold their nerve under pressure, and who can emerge as a new hero for an entire nation.

Pakistan have a good mix of youth and experience, with stalwarts like Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Sidra Amin still there to shepherd the other young talents of the squad.

After toss, Harmanpreet said, "We wanted to bat because these wickets are a bit tricky. She will be fine but we have added an extra batter for today - Harleen in there, Shikha misses out. I think these wickets will help us, we are a very good bowling side."

India W vs Pakistan W Live Score: Playing XIs

India: Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Thakur Singh

Pakistan: Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali(w), Bismah Maroof(c), Nida Dar, Sidra Ameen, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Fatima Sana, Aiman Anwer, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

The blue of India will be pitted against the green of Pakistan once again on a cricket field, this time in the Women’s T20 World Cup at Cape Town. On paper, India are the better ranked side and have a vastly superior head-to-head record against their neighbors, winning 10 out of the 13 encounters played against each other. Things are a bit more to scale at World Cups though, as Pakistan have won two while India have won four times in the past.

Pitch Report: This pitch will play similar to the last game. It will be a great cricket wicket despite a few cracks. It might be a bit two-paced but should still be a great cricket match.

Harmanpreet Kaur: We wanted to bat because these wickets are a bit tricky. She (Smriti Mandhana) will be fine but we have added an extra batter for today - Harleen in there, Shikha misses out. I think these wickets will help us, we are a very good bowling side. Our bowlers performed well in the tri-series before as well.

Bismah Maroof: We'd like to bat first. It is a dry wicket, won't change much so we'd like to put up a total. (On Diana Baig) It is unlucky she is not here with us, but this is an opportunity for someone else to perform. We have the confidence because we won against India last time but conditions are different here.

Jemimah Rodrigues: I like to take this added responsibility that motivates me to peform better. We are a young side but we are excited to perform on this big stage. I might forget my suitcase but not my guitar (laughs). The prep has been really good. Every series before the WC the talk in the dressing room has been to prepare for the big one. We have got some good practice sessions here as well, can't wait to go out there and express ourselves, follow the processes and the results will take care of themselves. Bring on India vs Pakistan!

Deepti Sharma to Javeria Khan, out Caught by Kaur!! There's the first wicket!! A soft dismissal as Deepti goes flatter and delivers one down the leg side, Javeria thought she could help herself to a pull behind square but top-edges this one straight to the short fine fielder. Javeria Khan c Kaur b Deepti Sharma 8(6) [4s-1]

Deepti Sharma to Javeria Khan, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Pak -- 15/1 after 3.2 overs.

PAKW 20/1 (3.4)

CRR: 5.45

Pakistan Women opt to bat

Deepti Sharma to Maroof, FOUR, nicely flighted again and the Pakistani skipper feels she's seen enough.

Deepti Sharma to Maroof, FOUR, back-to-back boundaries.

Partnership: 14(13)

Last Wkt: Javeria Khan c Kaur b Deepti Sharma 8(6) - 10/1 in 1.4 ov.

Last 3 overs: 21 runs, 1 wkts

Pak --24/1 after 4 overs.

Gayakwad to Maroof, FOUR, lovely!! This is a region Indian eves need to protect. This is flighted onto leg and Maroof brings out the sweep once again and gets it nicely behind square. Nobody to save runs there...

Pak -- 31/1 after 5 overs.

All my support to the awesome ladies in blue 💙