Indian captain Harmanpreet, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma expressed their feelings on the game, commenting on the special excitement, filled stadiums, and pride associated with India-Pakistan encounters. Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana recalled their connection with Indian players and emphasised her team’s confidence following a year of excellent performances.
India started their quest for their first ICC title with a dominant 59-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. All eyes are now on the highly anticipated match in Colombo on October 5, when Harmanpreet Kaur and his teammates will face Pakistan.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s captain, spoke with JioStar about the India-Pakistan matches:
“We grew up watching India-Pakistan matches and always wanted to be a part of them. We constantly talk about approaching it like any other game and keeping focused.”
India’s vice captain, Smriti Mandhana, expanded on the atmosphere during such matches:
“The atmosphere during India-Pakistan games is always heated, with a full house. Everyone you’ve met since the morning tells you to win. That type of atmosphere can occasionally bring out the best in you. My teammates and I thoroughly like that.”
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma discussed the rivalry between the two teams:
“India-Pakistan contests have always had more weight and excitement than other games. We look forward to the competition and are constantly on our toes when we face them.”
Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana shared her memories from the rivalry:
“I was young when I played in the previous World Cup in 2022, and after the Pakistan-India match, the entire Indian squad came to greet us. The way they rejoiced, sat together, and had fun together was quite special. That was the time I realised we had a good relationship with the Indian squad, which I enjoyed.”
On Pakistan’s chances against India, Fatima added:
“I believe in our team because of the way the players have performed in the last few months. Everyone is in good shape and performing well. We know the Indian team is strong, and we saw how they played against Australia in the last series; Mandhana, Jemimah, and Richa played really well. Both teams know the conditions. We will try to play good cricket against them. Our whole team is passionate about India vs Pakistan, so we will execute our best plans and try to win that match.”
On Harmanpreet Kaur:
“Harmanpreet Kaur is obviously a senior and experienced player. Cricket demands experience, and the way she carries the Indian team with so many hopes is impressive. The whole team enjoys her captaincy because she is senior and plays really well. She is a very impactful player; she can hit and even defend when needed. She can do a lot on the field as well.”
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