India Women vs Pakistan Women Asia Cup 2026 Live: IND take on PAK in Dubai. (Credit: ACC)

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first against India in a high voltage Asia Cup match in Dubai. If Pakistan win tonight, they will also join India as one of the semifinalists while a loss will see them needing a victory against Hong Kong, China in their last match of the group.

As in recent times, regardless of men’s and women’s matches, India have been heavy favourites against their neighbours with Saturday’s encounter being no different. Vice captain Smriti Mandhana looks in hot form after scoring 124 runs against Hong Kong, China in their last match, becoming the highest-ever run scorer in Women’s internationals, surpassing Mithali Raj.

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Her opening partner Shafali Verma also looks in good touch, having slammed 64 in the first match vs Thailand while the bowling line up has been on fire with the Women in Blue skittling out Thailand for 65 and Hong Kong, China for just 59. The only area of concern for India here is that No.3 Pratika Rawal hasn’t been able to compensate for Jemimah Rodrigues absence while captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh are due a big score.

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Women’s Asia Cup: Despite the unequal rivalry, India-Pakistan match could raise temperature

The buck stops with this. In its tenth iteration, the Women’s Asia Cup has garnered lukewarm response. The usual suspects have made the gulf between the field’s strongest and weakest sides more apparent than ever before. No David has come remotely close to troubling a Goliath. Records have fallen — Smriti Mandhana alone set a clutch of them on Thursday — but there has barely been anyone around to witness it. Into this setting walks the tournament’s most anticipated fixture — India versus Pakistan.

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