LIVE: Pakistan remove both India openers in CWC25 contest
The hosts will look to continue their winning run while Pakistan will be determined to open their account in Colombo.
Pakistan struck early in their opening match against India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2025, removing both Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal after a promising start by the Indian openers.
Mandhana and Rawal put on a steady 48-run stand before Fatima Sana provided the breakthrough, trapping Mandhana LBW. Soon after, Sadia Iqbal delivered a beauty that angled in sharply to dismiss Rawal, leaving India two down after a solid foundation.
However, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Harleen Deol steadied the innings soon after, taking India past the 100-run mark.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in Colombo.
Indian players stand together for the anthem | CWC25
Indian players during the national anthem ahead of their match against Pakistan in CWC25.
The two teams are coming off contrasting results in their maiden outings at the marquee tournament.
While India arrive into the contest on the back of a win against Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Guwahati, Pakistan are yet to open their account after having lost to Bangladesh in their first game.
Both teams have played eleven times against each other in this format, with India emerging victorious on all occasions.
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Both teams have introduced a change each to their playing XI from their previous outing. While pacer Renuka Singh Thakur comes in for Amanjot Kaur in India's lineup, Sadaf Shamas replaces Omaima Sohail for Pakistan.
Playing XI:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani
Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Rameen Shamim, Aliya Riaz, Sidra Nawaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
