Match Center

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, 2024 is up and running and we have already been treated with a flurry of entertainment but it is only going to get multiplied manifolds as the Dubai International Cricket Stadium prepares itself to host the biggest rivalry of cricket. An Asian clash between two powerhouse teams. It’s India Women taking on the Pakistan Women in Match number 7 and it promises to be a crackerjack of a contest. Both teams enter this match with contrasting fortunes from their opening games. India swallowed an extremely bitter pill and suffered a disappointing defeat against New Zealand, exposing vulnerabilities in their batting lineup. The Women in Blue struggled to make an impact, with no batter crossing the 20-run mark and several falling to soft dismissals or poor shot selection. On the other hand, Pakistan Women come into the match with momentum, having secured a victory against the ascended Sri Lanka Women. Their win was particularly impressive as they successfully defended a below-par target of less than a run-a-ball. Talking about India Women first. Coming into this match, they would desperately want to address the batting vulnerabilities and make amends to their approach. Also, would aim towards improving on the lackadaisical fielding performance in their previous game. India's batting lineup boasts tremendous potential, spearheaded by the in-form Smriti Mandhana and the explosive Shafali Verma at the top of the order. Their primary objective will be to provide a solid foundation for the rest of the team to build upon. The onus is on skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and the middle order to step up and shoulder more responsibility, especially if the top order fails to fire. In the bowling department, India's pace trio of Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh, and Arundhati Reddy needs to find their rhythm quickly. With conditions likely favoring spin, India has the luxury of several match-winning spinners in their ranks. The versatile Deepti Sharma adds significant value as a reliable all-rounder, capable of making crucial contributions with both bat and ball. The key for India will be to mentally reset after their opening defeat. They must approach this high-stakes encounter against Pakistan Women with a fresh mindset. Pakistan Women kicked off their campaign on a positive note, but there's still room for improvement as they face their arch-rivals. Their batting, a longstanding area of concern, requires urgent attention and enhancement. Fatima Sana Khan emerged as the standout performer in their opening fixture, delivering crucial contributions with both bat and ball. Her all-round prowess will be key once again, but Pakistan can't afford to rely solely on her 'sheroics'. The onus is on the top order to step up and provide substantial support to their captain. In the spin department, Pakistan boasts a wealth of options, and these could prove to be game-changers, especially if the conditions favor turn. However, the squad was dealt a blow, and Diana Baig was injured. Her doubtful participation leaves Pakistan with limited seam bowling options, potentially affecting their tactical flexibility. And lastly, talking about the head-to-head records, India Women lead this contest by 5-2 in the T20 World Cups and also won when these two last met in Cape Town in 2023. Will the Pakistan Women slightly better their record against their arch-rivals, or will India Women bounce back and get their first two points on the table? This Group A clash is surely going to be a box-office blockbuster. Which team do you think will win?