Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim has said that the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women’s team will face its most challenging matches in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup not against arch rivals Pakistan, but against the top-tier teams like Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand.
India, coming off a 59-run win against Sri Lanka, are expected to consolidate their net run rate with a strong performance against Pakistan, who were recently beaten by Bangladesh. “The toughest clash for India will be against the top teams. Pakistan has qualified through the qualifiers, and against India, they are unlikely to pose the biggest threat at this stage,” Karim told IANS in a virtual interaction.
The upcoming India–Pakistan fixture at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday carries significant fanfare, marking the fourth consecutive meeting between the two sides since the Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE. Like their male counterparts, India’s women may choose not to engage in post-match handshakes, as ICC rules do not mandate it.
Karim also highlighted the need for India to plan carefully for bowling and batting contingencies. While a five-bowler setup sufficed against Sri Lanka, a sixth bowling option may become crucial against stronger teams. He pointed out that opener Pratika Rawal and captain Harmanpreet Kaur could shoulder the sixth bowler responsibilities if required.
On the batting front, Karim noted that the side risks stagnation if in-form Smriti Mandhana falls early. The partnership between Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol against Sri Lanka reflected a slowdown, scoring just 38 runs off the first 70 balls. Karim suggested that flexible batting orders could maintain momentum in the middle overs, allowing India to accelerate even if early wickets fall.
“Having multiple options in both batting and bowling will be key against top ranked sides like Australia and England. The Indian team management needs to remain flexible and adapt strategies to maintain a strong run rate,” he added.
Fans can catch the India vs Pakistan clash in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 live on October 5 on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network.