Preview, IND-W vs PAK-W | India aim to keep noise at bay against underdogs Pakistan in Colombo

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India will look to put political noise surrounding a clash with arch-rivals Pakistan behind them and stick to business in their Womens World Cup encounter at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on October 5. The Women in Blue have won all 11 ODIs the two sides have played in their cricketing history.

Smriti Mandhana will be keen to get her India Women's World Cup underway against Pakistan in Colombo after falling cheaply in the opener

India recently beat Pakistan thrice in the Men's Asia Cup, provoking skipper Suryakumar Yadav to proclaim Pakistan were no longer worthy of being tagged "rivals". His women's counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur does not have to say those words out loud; it is merely an accepted objective truth. Pakistan have beaten India just thrice in 27 meetings across formats, and never in a game longer than 20 overs. They had to go through the Qualifiers to get to this stage, while India enter as the third highest ranked team in the world, recently dislodged from the second spot by England. Pakistan lost comprehensively against Bangladesh in the opener, India deeated Sri Lanka by 59 runs despite some major hiccups.

That's not to say Pakistan don't have quality players. Seamers Diana Baig and skipper Fatima Sana showed their quality in the opener when they spiritedly kept Bangladesh at bay while trying to defend an impossible total. Sidra Amin is entering the tournament fresh off scoring nearly 300 runs against a quality South African attack in a three-match series, getting dismissed just once in the process. It was her misfortune to be at the receiving end of Marufa Akter's hooping inswinger first-up in Colombo, but that only means runs are due for a player in form.

Yet, it remains a severe mismatch to the Indian ranks. Smriti Mandhana has already scored four ODI centuries this year and will have the records in her sight when she takes the field in Colombo, no doubt hurt at her failure to fire against Sri Lanka. But she might have to do little if the likes of Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana find their rhythm, given how much experience their rivals lack against top-tier bowling attacks.

Form Guide

India gave Australia a run for their money in the three-match series preceding the World Cup, even registering a dominant victory in the second ODI, and followed it up with a comprehensive win over co-hosts Sri Lanka in the opener.

Pakistan went unbeaten in the World Cup Qualifier earlier this year before taking a victory off South Africa in a three-match home series, showing they are capable of beating the big guns. However, they collapsed to defeat in the opener against Bangladesh after being bowled out for 129.

India: W L W L W

Pakistan: L W L L W

IND vs PAK Head-to-Head in WODIs

India have never lost to Pakistan in a Women's ODI across 11 meetings. In fact, the closest Pakistan have got is 80 runs while chasing and scalping four wickets when defending a total. Their last clash at the previous World Cup saw Pakistan bowl out for 137 chasing 245.

India 11-0 Pakistan

Pitch and Weather

In the only World Cup match in Colombo so far, Bangladesh and Pakistan seamers managed to extract significant movement in the air as well as off the deck in a low-socring affair. With the monsoon out in full force, expect more of the same come Sunday with bowling first the more tempting choice.

The weather gods also seem inclined to relent for the showdown, with no rain expected on the day post-noon. Nevertheless, clouds will continue to dominate the horizon with temperatures hovering around the 30 degree celsius mark.

Team News

India have a settled line-up and with Amanjot Kaur firing straightaway upon return from injury, no changes are expected.

Pakistan have the option of bolstering their batting with Eyman Fatima after a disastrous performance against Bangladesh.

India Probable XI: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Shree Charani

Pakistan Probable XI: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (c), Sidra Nawaz (wk), Rameen Shamim, Nashra Sandhu, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal