INDW vs PAKW World Cup 2025: The air in Colombo was thick with anticipation as the Indian Women’s team (INDW) clashed with the Pakistan Women’s team (PAKW) in a high-stakes encounter at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. This fixture, always more than just a game, delivered a riveting contest that had fans on the edge of their seats.
In the end, it was the Women in Blue who demonstrated their superior all-round performance, securing a comprehensive 88-run victory. This win not only kept India’s immaculate head-to-head World Cup record against their rivals intact but also propelled them to the top of the points table early in the tournament. If you missed the action, here are the essential INDW vs PAKW World Cup 2025 match highlights and the moments that defined this epic showdown.
India’s Innings: A Total Built on Fight and Fireworks
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to field, a decision that initially seemed shrewd as the Indian top order struggled to convert starts. The Indian innings was a story of partnerships and late-innings brilliance, culminating in a respectable total of 247 runs all out.
Top Order Struggles to Anchor
While the pitch offered some assistance to the bowlers, the Indian batters found it challenging to build momentum.
- Smriti Mandhana (23) and Pratika Rawal (31) provided a steady, if cautious, start, but both fell without registering a major score.
- The middle-order saw promising cameos. Harleen Deol was the pick of the established batters, falling just short of a well-deserved fifty, dismissed for 46 runs.
- Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (19) also found the going tough, struggling for rhythm before her dismissal.
The Richa Ghosh Effect: Turning the Tide
Just when the innings risked stalling below the 220-mark, young wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh stepped up to change the complexion of the game. Her aggressive, unbeaten cameo was the injection of pace India desperately needed.
Ghosh smashed a quick-fire 35 runs off just 20 balls, featuring three towering sixes and two fours. This late surge of runs, specifically pushing the score near 250, was arguably the decisive momentum swing of the first innings.
Statistic of Authority: The total of 247 turned out to be the largest aggregate score ever put up in a Women’s ODI World Cup match between India and Pakistan, showcasing the improved batting depth of both teams.
Pakistan’s Chase: Sidra Amin Fights a Lone Battle
Chasing 248 for a historic first win against their arch-rivals, Pakistan’s innings was a tale of initial struggle followed by a magnificent individual effort, only to be undone by a clinical Indian bowling attack.
The Indian Pace and Spin Trap
The Indian bowlers, particularly the seamers, were relentless.
- Renuka Singh Thakur set the tone upfront, maintaining excellent lines and drying up the scoring.
- The spin duo of Deepti Sharma and the Player of the Match, Kranti Gaud, took control in the middle overs.
- Kranti Gaud was exceptional, running through the middle and lower order with impressive figures of 3 wickets for just 20 runs in her 10 overs.
Sidra Amin’s Historic Knock
The highlight for Pakistan was undoubtedly the superb batting of opener Sidra Amin. Displaying immense grit and technique, Amin held the innings together even as wickets tumbled around her.
- Amin scored a valiant 81 runs off 106 balls.
- This knock is now the highest individual score by a Pakistani batter against India in Women’s ODIs.
- Her dismissal, caught by the captain off the bowling of Sneh Rana, effectively ended Pakistan’s realistic hopes of a chase.
The Pakistan team was eventually bowled out for 159 runs in 43 overs, resulting in a convincing 88-run victory for India.
Also Read: Tigresses Roar: Pakistan Women vs Bangladesh Women Highlights World Cup 2025
Key Moments and Turning Points
The match was filled with drama, highlighting the high-pressure environment of the World Cup.
- The Bug Interruption: In a bizarre moment, play was briefly halted in the Indian innings due to a swarm of bugs on the field in Colombo, requiring groundsmen to use pest control sprays. This pause briefly broke the rhythm of the Indian middle order.
- Kranti Gaud’s Breakthrough: The wicket of the set Natalia Pervaiz by Kranti Gaud (for 33 runs) broke a crucial fourth-wicket partnership with Sidra Amin. This was the moment India regained complete control.
- The Run-out of Diana Baig: A fantastic piece of fielding by Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur resulted in a sharp run-out, showcasing the intensity of the Indian side right up to the final overs.
As former Indian wicketkeeper Saba Karim noted before the match, “India looks far superior to Pakistan, but they still need to prepare thoroughly…” This preparation was evident in the clinical nature of their bowling and fielding performance.
Momentum is with the Women in Blue
The INDW vs PAKW World Cup 2025 match highlights confirm India’s powerful start to the tournament. While the batting performance had moments of vulnerability, the team’s ability to grind out a competitive total and the exceptional depth and variety of the bowling attack—led brilliantly by Kranti Gaud and Deepti Sharma—proves they are a formidable force.
This 88-run win is a massive confidence booster as India heads into the crucial phases of the tournament. The next challenge is a tough one against South Africa, where they will look to build on this momentum.
FAQs
Q1: Who was the Player of the Match in the INDW vs PAKW World Cup 2025 match?
The Player of the Match was India’s all-rounder, Kranti Gaud, for her exceptional spell of 3 wickets for only 20 runs, which broke the back of the Pakistani middle order.
Q2: What was the final score of the India Women vs Pakistan Women World Cup match?
India Women scored 247 runs all out in 50 overs. Pakistan Women were bowled out for 159 runs in 43 overs. India won by a margin of 88 runs.
Q3: Did Pakistan break their losing streak against India in the Women’s World Cup?
No. India’s victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match against Pakistan extends their perfect head-to-head record to 12-0 in Women’s ODIs.
Q4: Which Indian batter provided the crucial late-innings boost?
Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh was instrumental in providing the late acceleration, scoring a brilliant and aggressive 35 runs off just 20 deliveries.
Q5: Where was the INDW vs PAKW World Cup 2025 match played?
The high-profile clash between INDW vs PAKW was played at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
