The 'hungry' bowling attack India's CWC25 hopes rest on
India enters their World Cup contest with Pakistan filled with belief in their well-rounded bowling attack that just keeps getting better.
India and Pakistan gear up to face off in Colombo | Will to Win Preview Show | CWC25
Hosts India will take on Pakistan in their second clash of the CWC25.
In what's a home ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, India have the chance to strike a fire in all three disciplines to go all the way and achieve a national first.
The proud cricketing nation are laser focused on joining Australia (seven), England (four) and New Zealand (one) as winners of a Women's Cricket World Cup and what better opportunity will they have? India have hit the ground running, beating Sri Lanka by 59 runs in the tournament opener last week. And now they match up against another Asian rival with big dreams, Pakistan.
India bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi is emitting confidence ahead of their second contest and is really impressed with his attack and the strides they have made coming into the tournament.
"Deepti (Sharma), Sneh Rana and Sree Charani, it's a very good combination where there is a lot of experience also, and there is youth as well," Salvi said.
"If you've seen, they've been playing together since the last three - four series ... their combination is really working well for us. And also they all are very hard working girls. They are working well during the practice sessions, during the games."
India's World Cup campaign off to a winning start against Sri Lanka | Match Highlights | CWC25
Powered by an all-round display from Deepti Sharma and handy contributions from Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur, India beat Sri Lanka in their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 opener.
"Post-games also, the interactions with them - where they want to improve, and what they want to improve, and how they want to improve are the questions around which these three are working around. So, I see that they're very hungry to go out there and give their best for the country."
Off-break technician Sneh Rana has been in top form for India, grabbing two wickets in the tournament opener. Salvi believes she will be a key component to their tournament credentials.
"(Sneh Rana) is a quality bowler, obviously," he continued.
"So whichever conditions, wherever she plays, she is always delivered for India. I believe that that particular series and the output that she got in that particular series will play a big part mentally as well for her."
Twenty-two-year-old Kranti Gaud is another contributor in this Indian attack that Salvi is looking to. The quick has taken 15 wickets from just eight ODIs heading into their game with Pakistan.
"Kranti ... she's a very hard-working girl," he continued.
"I've seen her working into the nets, obviously into her physical aspect as well, and the mental aspect as well. She's very curious about how to go about and what to do for her own betterment, and she's been not just doing it in terms of words, but she's following it with actions. And in each of the practice sessions, she wants to learn a lot of things.
"Obviously, whatever performances she has done so far, she knows that. She's up for the challenges. She's someone who's very curious and wants those challenges for herself. And generally, she's a very hard working girl, I would say."
Aavishkar Salvi | ICC WCW25 | India pre-match press conference | 4 Oct '25
India Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana
Pakistan Squad: Fatima Sana (c), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vc), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah
