Colombo, Sri Lanka – India Women defeated Pakistan Women by 88 runs in their ICC Women's World Cup 2025 match held on Sunday, October 5th, extending their unblemished ODI record against Pakistan to a dominant 12-0. The match, played at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, saw India maintain their supremacy in a one-sided affair.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first, a decision they may have come to regret as the Indian batting lineup, despite a shaky start, posted a total of 247. India's innings was characterized by a series of starts that weren't converted into substantial scores, with Harleen Deol top-scoring with 46 off 65 balls. Jemimah Rodrigues contributed 32, while Richa Ghosh provided a late surge with a quickfire, unbeaten 35 off just 20 deliveries. Diana Baig was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, claiming 4 wickets for 69 runs.
Pakistan's chase never really got going, as they were reduced to 26 for 3 early in their innings. Sidra Amin offered some resistance, top-scoring with 81 off 106 balls, but she lacked support from the other end. Natalia Pervaiz contributed 33, but the rest of the batting order crumbled under the pressure exerted by the Indian bowlers. Kranti Gaud was the star with the ball for India, taking 3 wickets for just 20 runs in her 10 overs. Deepti Sharma also bagged 3 wickets for 45, while Sneh Rana chipped in with 2 crucial wickets. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 159 in 43 overs.
Kranti Gaud was named Player of the Match for her outstanding bowling performance. Her spell rattled Pakistan's top order and set the tone for the rest of the Indian bowlers. Deepti Sharma's all-round performance was also noteworthy, as she contributed with both bat and ball.
The victory propelled India to the top of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 table. Pakistan, on the other hand, have suffered their second consecutive defeat in the tournament.
Following the match, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra and captain Suryakumar Yadav downplayed any notions of a rivalry between the two sides. Chopra pointed to India's dominant 12-0 record in ODIs against Pakistan, stating that the proof of India's dominance was evident. Yadav echoed this sentiment, asserting that a rivalry requires a neck-and-neck competition, something he doesn't see in the current scenario.
The match highlighted India's continued dominance in women's ODI cricket against Pakistan. While individual brilliance was on display, particularly from Amin for Pakistan, the match underscored the importance of a collective team effort, as India's total of 247 was achieved without a single batter reaching a half-century. India will next face South Africa in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
