In a rather unusual scene at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, a snake briefly interrupted the practice session of the Indian women’s cricket team ahead of their much-awaited Women’s World Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan. The reptile, later identified as a harmless rat snake locally known as “Garandiya,” caused a short delay before being safely removed.
The snake was spotted near the drains close to the spectators stand, just as the Indian players were switching from the pitch to the nets. Stadium officials were quick to calm nerves, clarifying that the reptile was non-venomous and had likely wandered in while searching for rats. “It’s not venomous. It doesn’t bite. It’s a Garandiya, just looking for rats,” one official explained.
India started their World Cup campaign on a positive note with a strong win over Sri Lanka in their opening fixture. That match had seen India recover from a tricky position at 124/6, thanks to a composed partnership between Deepti Sharma (53) and Amanjot Kaur (57), which lifted them to a competitive total of over 269. Their bowlers then sealed a convincing 59-run win, laying down an early marker in the competition.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised her team’s ability to fight back and highlighted India’s batting depth as a key asset going forward. “In the middle overs, batters managed well; despite losing wickets… Really happy all the girls came together to try to win this game for the country. Having batting till number seven (eight) is the biggest strength for us,” she had said after the victory.
Now, all eyes turn to the India – Pakistan clash, one of the most high-profile fixtures of the tournament. Beyond the cricketing stakes, the match carries the weight of history and rivalry. The political backdrop and lingering sporting tensions between the two nations only add to the anticipation.
Recent flashpoints, including moments from the men’s Asia Cup where India and Pakistan players avoided handshakes, have kept relations frosty. A similar atmosphere is expected when the women take the field. Still, the spotlight will firmly remain on performance. Both teams will be eager to assert themselves early in the tournament, with the points table already taking shape.
Pakistan has had a contrasting start to their campaign, going down to Bangladesh in a crushing 7-wicket defeat. Pakistan’s batting collapsed to 129 all out, leaving the bowlers with very little to defend. After the game, skipper Fatima Sana denied feeling any pressure and remained determined to put up a strong fight against India. She said, “No I can’t say it will be pressure but yes today was bad luck, there was disappointment… Now our focus is on the next match (against India) and hope for a better result.”
The much-anticipated India – Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 clash will take place on Sunday, October 5, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. For India, it is a chance to carry forward the momentum from their opening win, while Pakistan will view it as an opportunity to stamp their presence in the tournament. With high drama expected on the pitch and millions of fans watching around the world, the fixture promises to be a true spectacle.
(Inputs sourced from PTI)
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