Women’s Asian Cup: Rivalry or routine? India are looking for another dominant win against Pakistan

There is a common theme when it comes to the rivalry between India and Pakistan over the years. Conditions of high stakes and bragging rights often tend to lend themselves to a battle of neighbors. But over time, it feels like something that’s promoted by social media hype more than anything else.

In men’s cricket, we have seen India continue to dominate their arch-rivals to such an extent that we have left captains and players to come out and say the rivalry is over. When it comes to women’s cricket, it’s just going to get bigger.

India have never lost a women’s ODI to Pakistan and have recorded just three defeats in the T20I format. It returned in 2022, during the Women’s Asia Cup.

India eventually beat them in the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 by a comfortable margin as their dominance with the ball continued. And this time, the noise and the stakes are much lower.

Watch DP World Women’s Asia Cup 2026 – India vs Pakistan on 5th September 2026 from 20:00 IST Live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) & Sony LIV.

India no longer have anything to prove in the group stage, secured their place in the semi-finals with two wins from as many games. Pakistan have only played once so far and are also in a good position to advance, with their final group game coming against Hong Kong.

Deepti Sharma also took care of the powerhouse before the match India will focus on their own game and have been one step ahead of Pakistan in their last few encounters.

“Look, there is no advantage as such. The only thing is that whatever we have won against them (Pakistan), be it the Asia Cup or any other matches, we are always one step ahead of them. That’s it,” Deepti said.

Even in the run-up to the game, despite the broadcasters’ best efforts, it looked like any other game for both sides. But again, at the end of the day there is a match to be won and India will be looking to continue their dominance over their neighbours.

FIRE DEPTH TEST

On paper, if you look at it, India have been dominant in their wins so far. They beat Thailand by 94 runs and Hong Kong China by 137 runs to reach the semi-finals.

But statistics don’t always tell the real story. India’s batting after Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma struggled to impress.

The middle order, which features big names like Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma, was a bit suspect this time.

Against Thailand, the openers laid the foundations before India suffered a dramatic collapse, losing eight wickets for just 46 runs. The Hong Kong game had a different pattern, with Smriti Mandhana dominating the innings while the batsmen from No. 3 to No. 7 managed only 34 runs between them.

However, Mandhana and Shafali Verma have benefited from batting during what appears to be the easiest period for strike production. The first seven matches suggest that the new ball is jumping nicely on the bat before the spinners start dictating the terms. Still, the gap in India’s batting numbers is striking. Mandhana leads the score with 143 runs followed by Shafali with 92 while Pratika Rawal is the next top scorer with just 32 runs.

So this is an area that Amol Muzumdar and Harmanpreet would want to improve against Pakistan.

Pakistan faced a similar problem and their batting unit struggled to make a dent. They could only score 119 for nine in 20 overs against Thailand before the bowlers bailed them out.

However, they will be looking to take some spirit from their tour of Sri Lanka earlier in the year. They were able to score twice over 170 on slow decks and will be hoping to put the Thailand result behind them and move forward.

SPIN AND WIN

In the case of India and Pakistan, their fuse has been blown. Deepti Sharma has six wickets, Sree Charani four and the impressive Prema Rawat two.

Prema made his T20I debut against South Africa in the T20 World Cup but did not make another appearance in the tournament. She has since made the most of her opportunity at the Asia Cup, impressing in two appearances against Thailand and Hong Kong.

The leg-spinner showed good composure under pressure, maintaining her length even when the batsmen attacked her and keeping things tight. Her two-wicket haul in the previous game, which included her first international wicket, should give her plenty of confidence going into the match against Pakistan.

The trio of Sadia Iqbal, Tuba Hassan and Nashra Sandhu spun in the win against Thailand. They picked up six of Thailand’s eight wickets that night.

Sandhu has enjoyed India’s run in the T20Is, with her record of six wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 5.47 and an average of 18. This average is significantly better than her career mark of 21.2.

The left-arm spinner has also had success against India’s key batsmen. Smriti Mandhana managed 30 runs off 32 deliveries against Sandhu, being dismissed twice, while Harmanpreet Kaur scored 26 off 34 balls and fell to the spinner once. Dubai conditions are expected to help the slower bowlers, Sandhu could pose a significant threat to the Indian middle order.

In the end, it could come down to which spin department steps up on Saturday.

INDIA VS PAKISTAN: HEAD TO HEAD

In the 17 matches so far, India have defeated Pakistan in 14 of them. They also hold a 5-1 record against Pakistan in the T20I version of the Women’s Asia Cup.

REPORT ON THE DUBAI PLAYGROUND

The draw could play an important role in Dubai, with six of the first seven matches in the tournament won by teams that chose to chase. Sri Lanka are the only side to buck the trend, successfully defending 78 against the UAE.

Teams batting first usually get off to a fast start before finding it harder to score freely as the innings progresses. India remain the only team to break the 150-run mark so far, while the spin has clearly been the more effective weapon, accounting for 71 wickets at an economy rate of 5.1 compared to the pacers’ 31 wickets at 6.18. This could make the captain win the toss with a difficult call.

The weather is unlikely to offer much relief either. Dubai remained hot and humid during the evenings, with Smriti Mandhana describing the conditions as a “steam box”. Saturday’s forecast is similar, with temperatures hovering around 37°C at the start of the match and should only drop slightly as the evening progresses.

When is India vs Pakistan Women’s Asia Cup?

India vs Pakistan Women’s Asia Cup match is played on Saturday 5th September 2026.

What time does the India vs Pakistan match start?

The match will start at 20:00 IST.

Where will India vs Pakistan match be played?

The match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Where can I watch India vs Pakistan live on TV?

The match will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network in India.

Where can I stream India vs Pakistan live online?

Fans can watch the match live on the SonyLIV app and website.

INDIA VS PAKISTAN: PREDICTED XI

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma

Pakistan: Muneeba Ali (wk), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana (capt), Umm-e-Hani, Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

– The end

Published on:

05 Sep 2026 07:20 IST