Deepti Sharma said India are “always one step ahead” of Pakistan as the two sides prepared for their Women’s Asia Cup meeting on Saturday. The India all-rounder framed the rivalry in simple terms, pointing to India’s record in recent meetings and the way her team has handled the matchup.
India have dominated Pakistan in women’s T20Is, holding a 14-3 head-to-head edge. That history gives India confidence going into the group-stage fixture, but it also adds pressure on Pakistan, who entered the match with more at stake in the points table.
What Deepti Sharma said
Deepti said there is no real advantage in the fixture, but India’s recent success against Pakistan means her side feels ahead in the rivalry. She stressed that India want to keep things straightforward and focus on playing good cricket rather than getting caught up in the occasion.
She also highlighted India’s balance, saying the batting unit and bowling unit have both been performing well. In her view, the team benefits when one player has a strong day and the others stay positive and help carry the momentum forward.
Why the match matters
The result carries different implications for each side. India had already won their opening two matches in the Women’s Asia Cup, which meant they had secured progress before facing Pakistan. Pakistan, meanwhile, had won their opening game and were second in the points table going into their second match on Saturday.
That setup makes the rivalry game more than just another fixture. Pakistan needed the match to strengthen their semifinal hopes, while India could approach it with a little more freedom, even if the rivalry record ensured plenty of attention.
Deepti said India’s mindset is to stay compact across both batting and bowling, which she described as the standard for the team after two matches. For India, the goal is to keep the same balance. For Pakistan, the challenge is to close the gap in a matchup where India have usually been the more complete side.
