India continued its domination over Pakistan in international cricket with a seven-wicket trashing in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 being the latest entry in the ledger.
This takes India’s head-to-head superiorty in the format to 15-3 and its Asia Cup record to 8-1.
Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana Khan won the toss and surprisingly opted to bat, a call that was puzzling given India’s strengths when chasing. The Women in Green got off to a positive start with Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar showing intent against a testing Indian pace duo with the new ball. The Pakistan pair was aided by some sloppiness by the Indians in the field, with Muneeba Ali handed a few lifelines too.
Harmanpreet Kaur once again deployed her trump card Shafali Verma, looking for an early wicket and she instantly delivered, leaving the stumps in disarray. From there on, Indian spinners struck at regular intervals. Shree Charani truly drove the pressure in with a double-wicket over, taking out Gull Feroza and Shawaal Zulfiqar with her prodigious left-arm spin.
Charani’s third arrived when she dismissed Ayesha Zafar in the eighth over with Harmanpreet taking an easy low catch at mid-on. That helped the spinner from Andhra go one short of levelling with Poonam Yadav (35) for most wickets for India in a year.
Deepti Sharma and Prema Rawat handled the rest as Pakistan was bowled out for its lowest total in women’s T20Is, eclipsing an equalling disappointing 56 against New Zealand at this very venue in the Women’s T20 World Cup two years ago.
Pratika Rawal will have two dropped catches, both fairly straightforward chances, to answer for when the team sits down to review this game, first dropping Muneeba at cover and then giving Shawaal a lifeline at long-on.
Pakistan tried its best to not make the paltry 56-run chase straightforward. Shafali and Smriti Mandhana started positively, hacking off seven runs in the opening over. But Fatima Sana, took matters into her own hands, removing Shafali and Pratika in the span of four balls. India opted against experimentation, respecting even the 55-run score of the opponent by going with its usual order, but the urge to finish the game soon got the better of the youngsters.
Fatima accounted for Smriti too, trapping her leg before. There was some doubt of whether the ball pitched in line, but the umpire was convinced and the lack of DRS in the Women’s Asia Cup meant Smriti couldn’t appeal.
With three wickets falling in quick succession, any incentive for India to give opportunities to players like Richa Ghosh or Bharti Fulmali, who have found themselves lacking rhythm in the format, took a backseat with the team focussing on securing the win.
Fatima Sana, battled discomfort in her left hip, needing attention from the physio in her third over. India, meanwhile, brought in Deepti Sharma to partner Harmanpreet — the experienced pair slowing down the momentum to get the result, something Pakistan failed to do with the bat earlier in the day. Harmanpreet finished the game with a massive six over the bowler’s head to seal the result with 68 balls to spare in her 150th T20I as Indian captain.
India has already qualified for the semifinal of the Women’s Asia Cup. Pakistan will next face Hong Kong on Sunday.
Published on Sep 05, 2026
