New Delhi, Oct 3 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer and selector Saba Karim argues that the team led by Harmanpreet Kaur will encounter its most significant challenge in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup against top-tier teams such as Australia and New Zealand, rather than in the anticipated matchup against their traditional rivals, Pakistan.

Having recently triumphed over Sri Lanka by 59 runs and secured a victory against Pakistan—who faced a seven-wicket defeat against Bangladesh—India seeks to enhance their net run rate as they prepare for tougher league matches ahead.

“No, not at all. I think the biggest test for India will be against the leading teams, particularly Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand. Pakistan has come through the qualifiers, and based on my observations, especially when they face a team like India, I doubt India will feel particularly challenged by Pakistan at this point,” Karim stated during a virtual interaction with IANS.

The highly anticipated India–Pakistan match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday is generating significant excitement, marking the fourth consecutive encounter between the two teams following three matches in the recent Men’s T20 Asia Cup held in the UAE.

Similar to the previous interactions where Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates did not engage in handshakes, a similar approach is expected from Harmanpreet and her squad, particularly since the ICC regulations do not require post-game handshakes.

While India benefited from the all-round performances of Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma against Sri Lanka, concerns remain regarding the hosts’ quest for their inaugural World Cup title. A five-bowler strategy proved sufficient to limit Sri Lanka to a score 59 runs short of the target, but the necessity for a sixth bowler will undoubtedly arise during the tournament.

Karim believes that opener Pratika Rawal and captain Harmanpreet must shoulder the additional bowling responsibilities when the primary bowlers are under pressure. “Regarding the sixth bowling option, they did experiment with Pratika Rawal in the last match. She bowled a couple of overs and took a wicket. Therefore, India has two potential options for the sixth bowler: one being Pratika Rawal and the other Harman.”

“Although Harman hasn’t bowled much in recent games or this season, I expect her to contribute, addressing the debate surrounding the sixth bowler. I am certain India will need their services, particularly against elite teams like Australia and England. Thus, this is an aspect where India must consider integrating the sixth bowler from the squad itself,” he emphasized.

India’s batting display also revealed a persistent concern— a slowdown in scoring if the in-form Smriti Mandhana is dismissed early. In Guwahati, both Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol struggled, managing only 38 runs off 70 balls combined.

With Sri Lankan bowlers executing stump-to-stump deliveries and fielding decisively, Pratika and Harleen found it challenging to accelerate, resulting in a decrease in India’s run-rate and an increase in dot balls. Even their efforts to increase the tempo led to their dismissals, with their partnership totaling 67 runs off 96 balls.

In the absence of Smriti’s explosive starts, India’s innings may become stagnant, a trend Karim believes needs urgent attention. “There seems to be a similarity in the batting styles of Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol. However, this will depend on the Indian team’s strategy. The management may choose to be flexible with the batting order.”

“For example, if Smriti Mandhana is out early, then Harleen Deol comes in. If Pratika Rawal is dismissed early, then Harman could move up the order. This flexibility would help maintain the run rate during the initial powerplay and ensure an increment through the middle overs. This is an area the Indian team management needs to focus on,” he concluded.

Don’t miss the exciting match between India and Pakistan in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 on October 5, live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.