India Storms to 88-Run Victory Over Pakistan in Women’s World Cup 2025
India extended its remarkable run in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 with an 88-run win over Pakistan at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. The result kept India undefeated in ODIs against Pakistan under captain Harmanpreet Kaur, lifting them to a pristine 12-0 record and reinforcing their status as a dominant force in women’s cricket.
The match unfolded with familiar patterns of resilience and strategic bowling. India, after choosing to bat first, posted 247 on a pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers. While several batters contributed, Harleen Deol’s steady 46 and Richa Ghosh’s brisk 35 anchored a score that never quite exploded, primarily due to the slow, variegated conditions that made stroke-making a patient affair. Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged the challenge of the surface, emphasizing the importance of preserving wickets and building partnerships to convert starts into a competitive total.
India’s Bowling Triumphs Restrict Pakistan
Pakistan’s chase faltered early as they slipped to 26 for 3 by the eighth over. The Indian bowlers maintained pressure, with Kranti Goud delivering a sensational spell, finishing with 3/20. Deepti Sharma added 3/45, and Shree Charani supplied essential support with 2/38. Their combined efforts exploited the favorable angles and kept the pressure on Pakistan’s batsmen throughout the innings, leading to a complete innings defeat at 159 all out in 43 overs.
Sidra Amin’s resilient 81 off 106 balls provided the backbone for Pakistan’s innings, but the rest of the lineup failed to back her tempo as wickets fell in regular intervals. Natalia Pervaiz also chipped in with 33, yet the target proved beyond reach as India’s bowling unit—led by Kranti and Deepti—executed a disciplined plan that left Pakistan chasing the game from the start.
Harmanpreet’s Post-Match Message: Confidence, Unity, and Momentum
After the match, Harmanpreet Kaur spoke to the media and the national audience, sending a message of optimism to fans back home. “Very happy, very important game for all of us, and I’m sure everyone back home is happy as well,” she said during the post-match presentation. The captain’s words reflected both relief and confidence as India navigates a demanding World Cup schedule.
Harmanpreet highlighted the key strategic elements that shaped the win: keeping wickets in hand on a tricky pitch, leveraging partnerships, and maintaining pressure with disciplined bowling. “There are a lot of areas, but we are happy we won; we want to carry this momentum forward,” she added, signaling a focus on continuous improvement as the tournament progresses.
What This Means for India Going Forward
With the 12-0 record against Pakistan in ODIs under Harmanpreet’s leadership, India has cemented a psychological edge in regional fixtures while showcasing depth in both batting and bowling departments. The returning balance between experience and youth—evident in players like Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, Kranti Goud, and Deepti Sharma—offers coach and selectors a variety of options for different venues and pitches across the World Cup schedule.
As India heads back to the subcontinent, the team will turn its attention to adapting to home conditions, where pitches often offer more pace and bounce. Harmanpreet’s remarks about team combinations and pitch behavior suggest a practical approach: assess surfaces, rotate roles, and preserve wickets to set up late-overs power-hitting or a consolidated middle-order surge when conditions demand it.
Crucially, the win reinforces a positive mindset for the rest of the tournament. Fans in India and across the cricket world will watch with keen interest as the side builds on this momentum, aiming to sustain an unbeaten streak and push deeper into the competition with balanced bowling, steady fielding, and a batting unit that can convert promising starts into defining totals.
