India extended its unbeaten ODI record against Pakistan to 12-0 with an 88-run victory in the Women’s World Cup 2025, but the win was far from convincing. Despite securing a great result, India’s performance was marked by batting inconsistencies and sloppy fielding, keeping Pakistan in the contest, within various periods. The win places India at the top of the points table, while Pakistan remains winless in the tournament.
After being put in to bat, India was restricted to 247 all out, the first time they have been bowled out by Pakistan in a women's ODI. Diana Baig, being the chief architect for Pakistan with a four-wicket haul. India’s top order got starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores, with Harleen Deol top-scoring with a 65-ball 46. The innings struggled for momentum, a fact Jemimah Rodrigues later attributed to a pitch that was "not an easy pitch" for batting. A late surge from Rodrigues scoring 32 off 37 and a crucial, aggressive cameo from Richa Ghosh, 35 not out off 20 pushed India to a competitive total.
Pakistan’s chase was anchored by Sidra Amin, who kept her team's hopes alive despite losing partners. However, India's fielding gave her multiple lifelines, including two dropped catches by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh and several missed review opportunities. The innings was also notable for the unusual run-out of Muneeba Ali, who briefly lifted her bat inside the crease just as a throw from Deepti Sharma hit the stumps. Despite these lapses, Pakistan’s batting lineup failed to build partnerships around Amin.
The decisive performance came from seamer Kranti Goud, who was named Player of the Match for her figures of 3 for 20 in 10 overs. Goud made crucial breakthroughs, dismantling the top order and returning to break a key partnership. Her efforts ensured Pakistan never gained control of the required run rate. Reflecting on her performance, Goud said, “I feel really proud, the people from my village, would have been happy, as they set up an LED screen to watch the matches.”
While the scorecard reflects a comfortable victory, the match, which was briefly interrupted by a swarm of insects requiring fumigation, exposed several vulnerabilities for the Indian side. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged the flawed performance post-match, stating that India "still have lots of areas to improve." The difficulties in rotating strike, coupled with below-par fielding, provided a blueprint for future opponents on how the formidable Indian team can be put under pressure.