‘Everyone you meet tells you to win, ’ says the Indian Vice-Captain Smriti Mandhana, a day before playing against Pakistan in the Women’s World Cup on Sunday. Speaking about the pressure of such an intense and thrilling contest, she said, “The atmosphere during India-Pakistan games is always very intense; it’s always a full house. Everyone you meet since morning tells you to win. That sort of atmosphere also brings out the best in you sometimes. My teammates and I absolutely enjoy that.”

India and Pakistan are set to meet in their group-stage contest on Sunday at the R. Premadasa Stadium for one of the marquee fixtures in the tournament. Meanwhile, India captain Harmanpreet said that having grown up watching battles between the arch-rivals, playing in them now feels all the more special.

“We have grown up watching India-Pakistan games and always wanted to be a part of them. We always talk about treating it as any other game and staying focused,” Harmanpreet cited.

All-rounder Deepti Sharma echoed the same sentiment, saying the contest always demands heightened focus, and cited, “The weight and excitement of India-Pakistan matches are always greater compared to other games. We look forward to that contest and are always on our toes when we face them.”

On the other hand, Pakistan captain Fatima recalled her fond memories from the previous World Cup while she appreciated the camaraderie between both teams before the D-day.

“After the Pakistan-India match in the 2022 World Cup, the whole Indian team came and met us. The way they celebrated and interacted was really special. That’s when I felt we shared a great relationship with them,” she said.

“Everyone is in good shape and performing well. We know India is strong — we saw how they played against Australia recently. Both teams know the conditions, and we’ll try to play good cricket and win,” she added, showing confidence in the team.

“Harmanpreet Kaur is obviously a senior and experienced player. The way she carries the team with so many hopes is impressive. She is a very impactful player; she can hit and defend when needed and contributes a lot on the field,” Fatima said.