When India and Pakistan meet—be it in cricket or any other competition—it becomes a gripping contest charged with emotion. The much-anticipated seventh match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is no exception, with players from both sides eyeing key records and personal milestones.
India’s vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, stands on the brink of a remarkable achievement. Just 39 runs separate her from joining the exclusive 500-run club in T20 World Cups, a distinction currently held by Indian cricket legends Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur. Mandhana reached the 3500-run milestone in T20 internationals during India’s first game against New Zealand, becoming only the second woman in history to do so after Suzie Bates of New Zealand. She now has 3,505 runs from 142 T20I matches.
Mandhana’s opening partner, Shafali Verma, also has her sights set on a significant accomplishment. At just 20 years old, Shafali made headlines in 2020 when, as a teenager, she rose to become the world’s top-ranked T20I batter. Now, with 1,950 runs from 82 T20Is, she needs just 50 more to become the fifth Indian woman to reach the 2000-run mark.
India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, is also nearing an important career milestone. Just 59 more runs will bring her T20I tally to 3500, adding to her impressive 7,000 white-ball runs combined across ODIs and T20Is. She crossed the 7,000-run threshold in the match against New Zealand.
Another Indian player close to a career milestone is all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, who is just one wicket away from her 100th international wicket. Vastrakar had limited opportunities with the ball in India’s opener against New Zealand, bowling just one over.
On the other side, Pakistan’s Aliya Riaz is on the verge of reaching 2,500 international runs. Riaz, a reliable all-rounder, currently has 2,436 runs from 164 matches. Though she was dismissed without scoring in her most recent outing against Sri Lanka in Pakistan’s opening match, her all-around contributions—including 32 wickets—make her a vital player for Pakistan.
Historically, India has dominated this fixture, winning 12 out of 15 matches between the two teams. The upcoming encounter, set to take place on October 6 at 3:30 PM IST at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, promises to be yet another high-stakes showdown in this storied rivalry.
