Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first in their Women's Asia Cup 2026 encounter against India on September 5. Off the pitch, the lingering geopolitical coldness was evident once more, with both captains abstaining from the traditional pre-match handshake at the center.
What did the captains say at the toss?
After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana explained her decision to bat first, citing a desire to set a daunting total for India. Expressing faith in her team's bowling depth to defend whatever score they post, she noted that internal discussions focused on adapting quickly to the pitch conditions. Sana also confirmed that Pakistan would field an unchanged playing XI for the clash.
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On the other hand, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur welcomed the outcome of losing the toss, stating that her side was eager to bowl first given their strong bowling form throughout the tournament. Emphasising the importance of patience and taking time before playing big shots, Kaur expressed confidence that her batters would continue their momentum from previous games. Reflecting on the historic feat of captaining her 150th T20I, she highlighted that enjoying her time on the field remains her main priority. Aiming to restrict Pakistan to a modest total to keep the run chase manageable, she confirmed India would also feature an unchanged lineup.
India Women (Playing XI):
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud
Pakistan Women (Playing XI):
Muneeba Ali(w), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana(c), Umm-e-Hani, Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
Head-to-Head Record
India has firmly held the upper hand in its Women's Asia Cup rivalry with Pakistan, winning six of their seven encounters. Pakistan’s lone breakthrough in the tournament came relatively recently, breaking India's long-standing dominance.