India Predicted Playing XI vs Pakistan | Source- AFP
Harmanpreet Kaur's India Women have already qualified for the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup 2026. Even before the knockout stage, they will play the biggest fixture of the tournament against Pakistan Women at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.
The Women in Blue played their initial matches against relatively-weaker oppositions in Thailand and Hong Kong.
Smriti Mandhana headlined the IND-W vs HK-W fixture; not only did she score a century but also became the leading run-getter in women's cricket.
In this article, we will analyse what could be the India Playing XI vs Pakistan for the much-awaited nail-biting clash of the Women's Asia Cup 2026.
Top order: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal
Smriti Mandhana blasted 124 runs off 64 balls, as she cracked 14 delightful boundaries and seven powerful biggies in the previous game against Hong Kong. Although she remains a constant for any India lineup across formats, she will be the woman in form during the IND vs PAK fixture of Women's Asia Cup 2026.
Shafali Verma failed to make it big in her last outing, but the attacking opener has already her kind of an innings in the tournament - a 36-ball 64 vs Thailand. She will be a crucial part of the batting lineup in the India Playing XI vs Pakistan.
Playing in place of an injured Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal is yet to prove herself by playing a match-winning knock. The top-order batter will look to deliver at the biggest stage, i.e. vs Pakistan.
Also Read: Smriti Mandhana Joins Rohit Sharma In An Elusive List After Century In Women's Asia Cup
Middle Order & All-Rounders: Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma
Harmanpreet Kaur is among the Indian batters, who are short on runs. However, she waits for bigger occasions to stamp her authority. And what could be a bigger occasion than an India vs Pakistan fixture, making her a top player in the IND Playing XI.
The way the openers have batted in the first two matches means the middle order has had very little time to showcase themselves, which is why Richa Ghosh and Bharti Furmali’s stats in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 don’t look too nice. However, the two batters at the crease will be crucial, especially during the fag-end of the innings.
Deepti Sharma glues this Indian line-up with her 3D skill set. The all-rounder would someday win games with her willow, or through her wily off-spin. But there will be very few times when Deepti fails to deliver.
Bowlers: Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani
India women have opted for a three-spinner attack in this Women's Asia Cup 2026, alongside the all-rounder Deepti Sharma. The trend will be continued in the India Playing XI vs Pakistan.
The leggie Prema Rawat, who made her debut in the 2026 T20 World Cup, bagged two wickets in the last match, while the No.1-ranked T20I bowler Shree Charani is bowling like her usual self and testing the batters with her cunning.
The pacers, Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaud, are complementing each other really well in these conditions. Although Nandani has been more successful at picking wickets, Kranti has been the one putting pressure.
India Women Playing XI vs Pakistan Women
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani
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