India need to improve in every department to beat resurgent PakistanThere's always a lot riding on an India-Pakistan contest. Everyone talks it up as the 'the greatest rivalry,' but when it comes to women's cricket, the Indians have a bit of a runaway lead. The 12-3 head to head in T20s does look lop-sided, but there's a little more than what meets the eye for the Sunday clash at the Dubai International Stadium.
The humiliating loss to New Zealand on Friday has left India unsettled while Pakistan come into this game after a commanding victory against Sri Lanka. It's a tough group with Australia waiting and a loss in this game will put the Women in Blue's campaign in peril. With that in mind, Harmanpreet Kaur's girls need to step up in every department to keep their hopes alive in the T20 World Cup.
While the Indian fielding in their 58-run defeat to NZ was way below-par, it was the batting that was shambolic. In a chase of 161, the likes of Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet looked all at sea, unable to deal with the two-paced pitch.
Jemimah Rodrigues, another star player, too couldn't make an impact and she stressed on the need to pick themselves up quickly. "We would like to forget Friday's game because this is a World Cup. We can't stay stuck in this game. We know every game from here is so crucial for us," Jemimah said.
The Indian bowlers also need to take charge and analyse the pitch better. Leg-spinner Asha Shobhana, fresh off a promising debut, will look to make a greater impact. Meanwhile, Pooja Vastrakar with the new ball and Arund hati Reddy, who replaced Radha Yadav, will be itching to get the early wickets.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are flying high after an allround performance that led to a 31-run victory against Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka. Their spinners were in their elements defending 116 and the confidence that they gained from the game could be crucial, especially on a pitch where the spinners normally hold sway.
Under the leadership of their new captain Fatima Sana, who excelled in all aspects of the game, Pakistan possess a formidable player capable of challenging India. Sana scored a quickfire 30 off 20 balls in their first game, but she wants her batters to take the game on.