Colombo: Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim has shared his thoughts on the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match in the Women’s World Cup, shedding light on India’s early momentum, upcoming challenges, and critical factors for success.
India began their campaign on a strong note, defeating Sri Lanka by 59 runs in the tournament opener. Now, they face another Asian rival, Pakistan, who are under pressure after losing to Bangladesh in their first match.
“There will be pressure. That’s why India vs Pakistan has become such a big clash, even in the Women’s World Cup. Otherwise, it wouldn’t matter as much. India has played Pakistan before and generally, done well. But because of the so-called controversies that surround such matches, I’m sure the Indian team management and players have prepared simulations to perform under pressure,” Karim said on JioHotstar.
“The best approach for India and the team management is to remove all outside distractions and focus on the game ahead. I’m confident that, with the experience of the Indian players and support staff, the team will put up a strong performance without being affected by any controversies. That said, I do agree that some pressure will exist for the Indian side,” he added.
Sustaining Form and Handling Expectations
As co-hosts alongside Sri Lanka, India are considered one of the top favourites to lift the trophy. Karim pointed out that while the home advantage is significant, sustaining form will be the biggest challenge for the Women in Blue.
“For India, the biggest challenge or factor would be to sustain good form, both individually, and as a team. For someone like Smriti Mandhana to maintain that level throughout the tournament will be a huge task, because the team will play at different venues against a variety of oppositions.”
He further highlighted the importance of fitness and recovery for senior players to stay consistent under high expectations:
“Similarly, it’s the same story for the rest of the players. Experienced players need strong recovery programs so they can maintain peak performance. And there will be pressure because expectations have risen.
India is being talked about as a strong contender to lift the World Cup, so that pressure will also build up. But I am confident that, as a team, India can absorb the pressure and enjoy the challenges ahead. These are a few factors essential for India’s success,” he explained.
Injury Concerns for India
The Indian team had a few injury scares before and during the tournament. Arundhatti Reddy suffered a blow to her leg in a warm-up game against England, while Sneh Rana appeared uncomfortable during the opening clash with Sri Lanka.
These concerns could test India’s depth and squad rotation ability as the tournament progresses.
Fielding and Fitness Improvements
Karim also discussed India’s progress in fitness and fielding—two areas that have often been under scrutiny. He pointed out that while New Zealand leads in catching efficiency, India have made visible strides.
“In terms of catching efficiency, only New Zealand is right at the top. Even Australia and England haven’t done so well. But the Indian team is constantly trying to improve in this area. From what I’ve seen in practice sessions, the team spends a lot of time, even one-on-one, working on catching. It’s a process that will take some more time, but India’s fitness levels have improved significantly, and better fitness automatically enhances fielding.”
He further credited the team management and coaching staff:
“The team management, especially the fielding coach, is working very hard on this. The goal is to minimise drop-catch percentages, and that will help India remain in contention to lift the World Cup,” Karim signed off.