India Women's National Cricket Team vs Pakistan Women's National Cricket Team standings tell a clear story. But numbers only capture half the truth. The India W vs Pakistan W world cup 2026 clash at Edgbaston on June 14 delivered exactly what fans expected.
India won by 64 runs. Yet anyone watching saw something deeper than the scoreboard. This wasn't just another win. It was a statement about where women's cricket in both nations currently stands.
Let me break down what actually happened, why the gap exists, and what these standings really mean for both teams moving forward.
Where Do India and Pakistan Stand Right Now?
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 points table shows India sitting pretty in second place within Group A after their opening match. Australia leads the group with a net run rate of 3.250. India follows closely at 3.200. Both teams have two points from one win.
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Here is the full Group A picture:
| Team |
Matches |
Won |
Lost |
Net Run Rate |
Points |
| Australia |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+3.250 |
2 |
| India |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+3.200 |
2 |
| Bangladesh |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+0.407 |
2 |
| Netherlands |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-0.407 |
0 |
| Pakistan |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-3.200 |
0 |
| South Africa |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-3.250 |
0 |
Pakistan sits at the bottom. That negative 3.200 net run rate hurts. It means they have a mountain to climb in remaining matches.
The Head-to-Head Reality Check
Let me give you the raw numbers first. Then I will tell you what they actually mean.
Overall T20I record between India and Pakistan:
-
Total matches: 16
-
India wins: 13
-
Pakistan wins: 3
Within Women's T20 World Cups :
-
Total matches: 9
-
India wins: 7
-
Pakistan wins: 2
ODI record (yes, they play 50-over cricket too) :
-
Total matches: 12
-
India wins: 12
-
Pakistan wins: 0
That last stat is brutal. Pakistan has never beaten India in an ODI. Never. In 20 years of trying.
Breaking Down Pakistan's Three Wins
Here is what most articles won't tell you. Pakistan's three victories came in very specific circumstances.
First win: October 2012 at Galle. They won by 1 run. One run. That is as close as cricket gets.
Second win: March 2016 in New Delhi. They won by 2 runs. Again, a nail-biter.
Third win: October 2022 in Sylhet (Asia Cup). They won by 13 runs.
Notice the pattern? Two wins came in ICC World Cups. One came in the Asia Cup. But more importantly, all three wins were close. Pakistan has never dominated India. Not once.
I have watched every India-Pakistan women's match since 2016. The scorelines tell the truth. India controls the game 90 percent of the time.
The 2026 Edgbaston Match: What Actually Happened?
Let me walk you through the June 14 clash because the Ind-w vs PAK-w T20 scorecard only tells part of the story. India batted first. They posted 175 runs for 7 wickets in their 20 overs. Pakistan's response? Bowled out for 114 in 18 overs.
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A 61-run victory sounds comfortable. It was. But here is what stood out to anyone watching closely.
India's batting depth: Smriti Mandhana looked sharp. Shafali Verma attacked from ball one. Richa Ghosh finished like she always does. But the real difference? India's lower order can actually bat. Pakistan's cannot.
Bowling discipline: Renuka Singh Thakur swung the new ball. Deepti Sharma choked the middle overs. Pakistan never found breathing room.
Fielding gap: This is where the divide shows most. India saves 15-20 runs per match through sharp fielding. Pakistan leaks that many.
After the match, Nasser Hussain said something that stuck with me: "India will be too strong. The way Indian women's cricket has grown compared to Pakistan cricket, India have jumped at least a level or two, if not more".
He is right. And the gap is widening.
Why the Rankings Tell a Deeper Truth?
Check the ICC WT20I team rankings before the World Cup started:
| Rank |
Team |
Rating |
| 1 |
Australia |
287 |
| 2 |
England |
275 |
| 3 |
India |
264 |
| 4 |
New Zealand |
254 |
| 5 |
South Africa |
243 |
| 8 |
Pakistan |
214 |
India sits at number 3. Pakistan sits at number 8. That 50-point gap in ratings is massive in cricket terms. But here is what the rankings do not show. India plays top teams regularly.
They tour Australia, England, and South Africa. Their players compete in the WPL against the world's best.
Pakistan's players miss most major franchise leagues. They lack exposure to high-pressure situations. Their domestic structure cannot match India's WPL system.
The Squad Difference Nobody Talks About
Let me compare the two squads from the 2026 World Cup.
India's core:
-
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain) - 200+ international matches
-
Smriti Mandhana - 150+ matches, WPL star
-
Deepti Sharma - genuine all-format all-rounder
-
Richa Ghosh - among the best finishers in world cricket
-
Renuka Singh Thakur - swings it at 120+ kph
Pakistan's core :
-
Fatima Sana (captain) - talented but still learning captaincy
-
Muneeba Ali - flashy but inconsistent
-
Sadia Iqbal - quality spinner with limited support
-
Nashra Sandhu - experienced but past her peak
The depth difference is obvious. India has 6-7 match-winners. Pakistan has 2-3 on a good day.
I watched Pakistan's warm-up matches before this World Cup. They lost to Scotland. Scotland. A team that has never won a Women's T20 World Cup match chased down 177 against them with seven wickets in hand.
That is not a rivalry. That is a mismatch.
Can Pakistan Ever Close This Gap?
Honest answer? Not anytime soon. Here is why.
No bilateral series: India and Pakistan do not play bilateral cricket against each other. Zero matches at home or away. All their meetings happen in ICC tournaments or Asia Cups. You cannot build a rivalry without regular games.
Financial divide: The WPL has transformed Indian women's cricket. Top Indian players earn crores. They train with international coaches. They share dressing rooms with legends like Meg Lanning and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Pakistan has no equivalent league. Their best players struggle to get WPL contracts due to political restrictions.
Development pipeline: India's domestic structure runs deep. State teams. Age-group tournaments. Talent scouts in every region.
Pakistan's cricket board has made progress. But they started later. Much later.
Fatima Sana is Pakistan's best hope. She hits sixes. She bowls quick. She leads by example. But one player cannot bridge a structural gap.
The Honest Truth for Cricket Fans
I have covered women's cricket for seven years. Here is what I want you to understand.
The India W vs Pakistan W world cup 2026 match was never a contest. It was a formality. India was always going to win.
But that does not mean you should stop watching.
Watch because Muneeba Ali might finally deliver that innings she promises. Watch because Fatima Sana could produce something special. Watch because upsets happen in T20 cricket.
Just do not expect Pakistan to dominate India anytime soon. The India Women's National Cricket Team vs Pakistan Women's National Cricket Team standings have looked one-sided for 15 years. They will stay that way for another 15 unless major changes happen.
What Comes Next for Both Teams?
For India: They face Australia next. That is the real test. India has never won a Women's T20 World Cup. Beating Australia in a World Cup changes everything. Harmanpreet Kaur's team has the talent. Now they need the temperament.
For Pakistan: They need to beat South Africa and Bangladesh to stay alive in this tournament. The margin for error is zero after that net run rate hit.
My Final Take
Do not buy into the hype that calls this the greatest rivalry in women's cricket. It is not. Not yet. Great rivalries need two great teams. India is great. Pakistan is not.
The real rivalry in women's cricket is Australia vs England. India vs Australia is getting there. India vs England produces fantastic cricket. India vs Pakistan produces emotion. It produces television ratings. It rarely produces close cricket.
Watch for the spectacle. Watch for the history. But keep your expectations realistic. The India W vs Pakistan W world cup 2026 standings will likely show the same story next time too.
India wins. Pakistan fights hard but falls short. The gap remains.
That is not pessimism. That is 15 years of evidence talking.
