India’s Historic Triumph: Women’s World Cup 2025 – 88-Run Victory Over Pakistan, Kranti Gaur Shines as Star

Table of Contents

Introduction: Four Consecutive Sunday Wins

The Indian women’s cricket team scripted another historic chapter by defeating Pakistan by 88 runs in Colombo during the Women’s World Cup 2025. This wasn’t just another win — it lifted India to the top of the points table with two matches and four points, and reinforced India’s dominance over its arch-rivals.

Interestingly, this was the fourth straight Sunday victory against Pakistan across formats. In September, the men’s team defeated Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup on successive Sundays, and now the women’s team continued the trend with a resounding World Cup win.

India’s Innings: Harleen Deol’s Responsible Knock

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first. India had to be cautious right from the beginning.

Smriti Mandhana contributed 23 runs before falling in the 9th over.
Young opener Pratika Rawal played a fluent 31-run knock, including three consecutive boundaries.
The backbone of the innings was Harleen Deol, who scored a solid 46 runs, narrowly missing a well-deserved fifty.

Jemimah Rodrigues (32 runs) and Richa Ghosh (35 runs) chipped in with crucial middle-order contributions. India ended with a competitive total of 247 runs in 50 overs, despite losing both Kranti Gaur and Renuka Singh in the final over.

The turning point of India’s innings was resilience — every batter contributed, ensuring the scoreboard ticked and Pakistan’s bowlers never dominated for long.

Pakistan’s Chase: Sidra Ameen Lone Warrior

Chasing 248, Pakistan faltered early and never recovered.

In the 4th over, opener Muneeba Ali was dismissed in a controversial run-out.
Sidra Shamas managed only 6 runs before falling.
Captain Fatima Sana scored just 2 runs, adding pressure on the middle order.

The only shining light was Sidra Ameen, who anchored the innings with a gritty 81. She notched up her 13th ODI half-century and shared a crucial fifty-run partnership with Natalia Pervaiz (33 runs).

But once Sneha Rana removed both Pervaiz and Ameen, the chase collapsed completely. Pakistan was bundled out for 159 runs in 43 overs, handing India a comfortable 88-run win.

Indian Bowlers’ Domination: Kranti and Deepti Steal the Show

India’s bowling was clinical, precise, and ruthless.

Kranti Gaur was the star of the night, picking 3 wickets for just 20 runs. She dismissed Sidra Shamas, Aliya Riaz, and Natalia Pervaiz, sealing her Player of the Match award.
Deepti Sharma matched her brilliance with 3 wickets, removing Fatima Sana, Rameen Shamim, and the final batter to finish Pakistan’s innings.
Sneha Rana chipped in with 2 wickets, while Harmanpreet Kaur’s direct throw run-out was a fielding masterclass.

This bowling effort reflected India’s depth and balance — pace, spin, and sharp fielding combined to dismantle Pakistan.

A Match Full of Drama: From Toss Blunder to Handshake Snub

Toss Controversy

The game began with drama. Harmanpreet Kaur flipped the coin, it landed on heads. Pakistan’s captain Fatima Sana had called tails. But match referee Shandre Fritz mistakenly declared Pakistan the winner. The decision sparked outrage and remained a talking point throughout the match.

Muneeba Ali’s Run-Out Saga

Muneeba Ali’s dismissal created more controversy. Initially given not-out by the third umpire, replays later showed her bat was in the air when the stumps were broken, overturning the decision to out. Pakistan protested strongly, but the verdict stood.

The Handshake That Never Happened

Adding to the tension, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s captain before the game. This mirrored a recent incident from the men’s Asia Cup when India’s captain also avoided the customary handshake. The act drew sharp media attention.

India’s Record-Breaking Streak Against Pakistan

The numbers underline India’s dominance:

12 wins out of 12 in women’s ODIs against Pakistan.
5 out of 5 wins in Women’s World Cup clashes.
Fourth consecutive Sunday across men’s and women’s cricket where India has beaten Pakistan.

This isn’t just dominance — it’s a psychological edge that keeps growing stronger.

Reactions from the Captains

Harmanpreet Kaur (India):
“We prepared well before the World Cup and every player is stepping up. The bowlers deserve huge credit today, especially Kranti Gaur, who showed incredible maturity.”

Fatima Sana (Pakistan):
“Records are meant to be broken. We will keep working hard and come back stronger in the next matches. Credit to India, they played better cricket.”

Playing XI – India

Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneha Rana, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaur, Shree Charani.

Playing XI – Pakistan

Fatima Sana (captain), Muneeba Ali, Sidra Ameen, Aliya Riaz, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Nashra Sandhu, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Shamas.

Why This Win Matters for India

India is now top of the points table with two commanding victories.
Kranti Gaur’s emergence as a match-winner is a major boost for the bowling unit.
The unbeaten streak against Pakistan adds psychological strength for future encounters.
The team showed composure despite controversies — a sign of professionalism and maturity.

Conclusion: India Eyes Greater Heights

This victory was more than just 2 points — it was a statement of intent. India outclassed Pakistan in batting, bowling, and fielding, while also handling pressure and controversies with composure.

The fact that India has beaten Pakistan 12 times in a row in women’s ODIs shows the gulf in class. But beyond statistics, this win signifies the rise of a confident, fearless Indian side aiming for nothing less than the World Cup crown.

With momentum on their side and a strong bench of performers, India looks ready to chase glory and script a golden chapter in women’s cricket history.