“India Must Stay Focused!” – Saba Karim’s Big Warning Ahead of India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup

Saba Karim on India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup Clash: Forms and Pressures

The feisty and intense rivalry of India vs Pakistan is no stranger to pressure and drama, and the Women’s World Cup 2025 is perhaps the most heightened stage. Saba Karim, a former cricketer and chief selector for India has shared his insights on the contest in which he broke down India’s strengths, challenges, and frame of mind on the occasion of performing at home.

India started strong, beating Sri Lanka by 59 runs in the first game of the tournament. Pakistan, on the other hand, had a rough start, losing to Bangladesh.

Now, India and Pakistan are gearing up for a big match. India wants to keep their winning streak going, while Pakistan is trying to recover from their initial loss.

“There Will Always Be Pressure” – Karim on India vs Pakistan Rivalry

Karim pointed out that the India-Pakistan rivalry is not just about cricket as fans, and the two nations, are emotionally and politically involved, and that puts a lot of pressure on the players.

“There will be pressure. That is why India vs Pakistan has become such a big clash, even in the Women’s World Cup. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be that much of a deal. The Indian team has done some simulations to help them perform under pressure,” Karim shared in an interview on JioHotstar.

He implied that the Indian team management’s smartest move would be to get rid of the external agitators and focus solely on the game of cricket.

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Keeping Form – The Most Difficult Task

While India is considered to be the team that should win the trophy, Karim said that keeping form amidst different conditions and opponents will be the biggest challenge.

“For someone like Smriti Mandhana, maintaining that level throughout the tournament will be a huge task,” Karim explained. “Similarly, experienced players need recovery programs to ensure peak performance.”

He added that India must also deal with the pressure of being expected to win, particularly as co-hosts with Sri Lanka.

Team India’s Injury Worries

Before the event even started, India had some injury issues. Arundhatti Reddy got hurt in a warm-up game against England, and Sneh Rana seemed uncomfortable during the first game against Sri Lanka.

Karim thinks these worries could matter as the event goes on. India needs to make sure its players are fit and not overworked.

Fielding – A Key to Success

Karim also emphasized the importance of fielding in India’s campaign.

“The team management, especially the fielding coach, is working hard to minimise drop-catch percentages. That will be crucial if India wants to remain in contention for the World Cup,” he concluded.

India stepped into the India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup showdown with the tag of being favorites. However, as Karim points out, skill alone won’t suffice, it will be about dealing with pressure, keeping one’s good form, and concentrating despite the expectations.

Such talents as Smriti Mandhana spearheading the Indian attack and Pakistan eager to make a comeback mean that cricket fans will be witnessing another memorable chapter of this long-standing rivalry.