India face Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday in the 9th match of Group A at the Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
India have already sealed a semi-final berth after two wins from two games against Thailand and Hong Kong, while Pakistan need a win to keep their own last-four hopes alive.
India hold a dominant head-to-head record, having won 14 of 17 T20I meetings against Pakistan, including a 6-1 record in T20 Asia Cup fixtures specifically.
Smriti Mandhana arrives in red-hot form after scoring 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong in India’s previous match.
The Dubai pitch is expected to play slowly, favouring spin bowling and rewarding patient batting in the early overs of the innings.
India have already sealed a semi-final berth after two wins from two games, having beaten Thailand and Hong Kong in their opening fixtures.
Pakistan need victory in this match to keep their own last-four hopes alive, after opening the tournament with a dominant win over Thailand.
India hold a commanding head-to-head record in the rivalry, having won 14 of 17 T20I meetings against Pakistan, including a 6-1 record in T20 Asia Cup fixtures specifically.
The sides last met at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, where India won by 64 runs.
Smriti Mandhana arrives in outstanding form, having scored 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong in India’s previous group match.
Spinner Deepti Sharma took three for nine against Hong Kong and has previously claimed figures of 5-10 against Pakistan at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s Nashra Sandhu has a strong record against India specifically, with six wickets in seven matches against them at an economy of 5.47.
The pitch at Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to play slowly, favouring spin bowling and rewarding batters who are patient in the early overs.
Photo of Smriti Mandhana, Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India
