IND-W vs PAK-W Preview: India Chase a Perfect Record Against Arch-Rivals Pakistan in Dubai
Whatever else happens in this Women’s Asia Cup, September 5 was always going to be circled on the calendar. India and Pakistan renew their rivalry at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and while the history between these two sides is about as lopsided as international cricket gets, this fixture never quite loses its edge. India arrive fresh off a record-shattering 137-run win over Hong Kong, while Pakistan will be hoping to be only the fourth team ever to hand India a T20I defeat.
Match Details
- Fixture: India Women vs Pakistan Women, Group A
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
- Date: September 5, 2026
- Tournament: Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026
Head-to-Head Record: India’s Overwhelming Dominance
There’s no getting around it — this rivalry is one of the most one-sided in women’s cricket. Heading into this match, it will be the 18th T20I meeting between the two sides, with India having won 14 of the previous 17, against just 3 for Pakistan. The gap is even starker in ODIs, where India have a spotless 12-0 record. Across all formats and all 28 previous meetings, India have won 25 times.
- Overall head-to-head (all formats): India 25 – Pakistan 3
- T20I record: India 14 – Pakistan 3 (from 17 meetings)
- ODI record: India 12 – Pakistan 0
- Most recent meeting: India won by 64 runs at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in Birmingham
- Pakistan’s only T20I wins: 2012 (Galle, by 1 run), 2022 Asia Cup (by 13 runs, inspired by Nida Dar), and one Women’s T20 World Cup meeting
- Highest team total in the fixture: 151/3 (India, 2023 T20 World Cup in Cape Town)
- Lowest team total in the fixture: 63 (Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup)
- Notable individual record: No Pakistani batter has ever scored a century against India in this fixture; Mithali Raj’s unbeaten 73 in the 2016 Asia Cup final remains the highest individual score in the rivalry
Squads
India Women
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G. Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Radha Yadav
Pakistan Women
Fatima Sana (captain), Muneeba Ali (wicketkeeper), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Eyman Fatima, Umm-e-Hani, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Momina Riasat, Eman Naseer, Waheeda Akhtar
Recent Form
- India Women: Perfect campaign so far — beat Thailand in the opener, then thrashed Hong Kong China by 137 runs, with Smriti Mandhana’s record-breaking 124 headlining that win and taking her past Mithali Raj as the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket. India have already sealed a semi-final berth.
- Pakistan Women: Opened their campaign against Thailand on September 2, with captain Fatima Sana leading a squad that’s had its own selection debates — the team management has stuck with experienced options over recent form, putting real pressure on senior players to deliver in a marquee fixture like this.
Key Players to Watch
Smriti Mandhana (India)
Fresh off becoming the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket and notching her 18th international century, Mandhana is in the form of her life. If she gets going at the top of the order again, Pakistan’s bowlers could be in for a long day.
Harmanpreet Kaur (India)
Captaining under some scrutiny after India’s recent T20 World Cup disappointment, a strong showing in this fixture — statistically India’s most dominant rivalry in world cricket — would go a long way toward settling any lingering questions about her leadership.
Deepti Sharma (India)
Fresh off a match-winning 3/9 against Hong Kong, Deepti’s all-round skillset makes her one of India’s most important players in tight, high-pressure contests like this one.
Fatima Sana (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s captain and an experienced campaigner, Sana will need to lead by example with both bat and ball if her side is to have any chance of causing an upset.
Nida Dar (Pakistan)
One of the most experienced names in Asian women’s cricket and the player who inspired Pakistan’s last Asia Cup win over India back in 2022 — a name India’s batters will be wary of if she’s introduced into the attack at a crucial stage.
Why This Match Still Matters
The head-to-head numbers make India overwhelming favourites, and rightly so. But this fixture has produced its share of memorable moments regardless of the lopsided record — Pakistan’s one-run win in Galle back in 2012 and Nida Dar’s heroics in 2022 both prove that on its day, this Pakistan side is capable of causing an upset. With India already through to the semi-finals, there’s an argument this match matters slightly more to Pakistan, who’ll want to boost their own net run rate and knockout chances with a strong showing against the tournament’s in-form side.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When and where is the IND-W vs PAK-W match being played?
The match is being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 5, 2026.
What is the head-to-head record between India and Pakistan in women’s cricket?
India lead 25-3 across all formats, including a 14-3 lead in T20Is and a perfect 12-0 record in ODIs.
When did Pakistan last beat India in a T20I?
Pakistan’s most recent win over India came at the 2022 Women’s Asia Cup, a 13-run victory inspired by Nida Dar.
Who are the key players to watch in this match?
Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur for India, and captain Fatima Sana and veteran Nida Dar for Pakistan.
Has India already qualified for the semi-finals?
Yes. India became the first team at this Women’s Asia Cup to secure a semi-final berth, following wins over Thailand and Hong Kong China.
Who is captaining each side?
Harmanpreet Kaur captains India, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain. Fatima Sana captains Pakistan.
