India vs Pakistan, Women’s T20 World Cup: Head-to-head, preview, stats, & squads

India vs Pakistan (Pic Courtesy: AFP)

It is not a stretch to say India vs Pakistan is sport's greatest rivalry, given the geopolitics involved between the two warring nations. Hamstrung by the absence of bilateral fixtures, staunch rivals India and Pakistan have found their cricketing jousts being restricted to only ICC events or continental tournaments like the Asia Cup.

India has faced Pakistan six times in total since the inaugural edition in 2009, winning on four occasions to date. Both are set to resume their fabled rivalry in what would be an opening contest for both the sides in the current edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

India has an overall edge over Pakistan winning 10 out of the 13 T20I matches, but the Women in Green have slowly turned the tide, winning a hyped Asia Cup encounter in 2022. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will step in without their batting mainstay Smriti Mandhana, after she injured her left shoulder during the tri-series final against South Africa in East London.

Even though injured Mandhana will be missed, the squad has the past to lean on for the feel-good vibe. Against an incisive Pakistan attack strengthened by the experienced trio of Aliya Riaz, Javeria Khan and Nida Dar, India has to bat deep.

Also Read: India vs Pakistan live streaming: How to watch Women's T20 World Cup 2023 live?

Head-to-head records

Total overall matches played: 13

India won: 10

Pakistan won: 3

In World Cup tournaments:

Total matches played: 6

India won: 4

Pakistan won: 2

India vs Pakistan: Preview

India will march into the World Cup having lost the recent tri-series final to the Proteas, a match they narrowly lost. Harmanpreet and Co. also lost the warm-up game to Australia before triumphing over Bangladesh.

The Women in Blue are expected to advance to the semi-final of the ICC tournament again but need to up the ante if they are to reign over the mighty Aussies. Barring Renuka Singh, India will have to put in some serious thinking in the next one month as to what exactly will be the course of action in the bowling department. Veteran Shikha Pandey, who is yet to bag a wicket since her comeback, will be expected to provide early breakthroughs in the showpiece event.

After Mandhana was ruled out of the opener, the onus will now be on the experienced skipper Kaur and speedster Shafali Verma to let their bats do the talking. Jemimah Rodrigues will look to fend off the pressure with a great all-round showing in the tournament. Pooja Vastrakar's pace bowling artistry will also be critical to how the team advances in the tournament. India will be on the lookout for talented youngster Richa Ghosh who can carry the team forward in the T20 World Cup.

Also Read: Women's T20 World Cup: Interesting stats that construe the importance of India vs Pakistan

Key stats that cannot be missed

1. To date, the highest score in an India-Pakistan T20I tie remains 137, scored by India in the T20 World Cup in 2018. India's then captain Mithali Raj starred with quick 56 runs as Pakistan's 133/7 was chased with an over to spare as India won by seven wickets.
2. Pakistan registered their first-ever T20 triumph over the neighbours at the World Cup in 2012, when experienced Nida Dar spun the arch-rivals to a narrow one-run victory with a remarkable bowling spell of 3/12.
3. India played against arch-rivals Pakistan in an intriguing battle for the first time in 2009 in the sport's shortest format. The Women in Blue registered a comprehensive win over the Pakistan women, beating them by 5 wickets.
4. Out of every gruelling contest with India, there is one match that Team Pakistan would most likely want to forget. As it happened, India bundled out Pakistan for only 63 runs in the Asia Cup final at the Guanggong International Cricket Stadium in 2012, which remains the lowest score in the tie thus far.
5. India star spinner Priyanka Roy changed the outcome of the match in India's first-ever T20 match against arch-rivals Pakistan with supreme bowling effort, which saw her walk away with figures of 5/16 and three brilliant catches in the 2009 World Cup.

Teams

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarvani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shikha Pandey

Pakistan: Bismah Maroof (c), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana, Javeria Wadood, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Tuba Hassan