• Source:JND
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India vs Pakistan Women's World Cup: India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed confidence in the women's team, stating that Harmanpreet Kaur's side can maintain their Preeminence over Pakistan with a 12-0 record in ODIs. 

India takes on Pakistan in a crucial group-stage encounter of the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup in Colombo on Sunday.

"Women's cricket is playing a different brand of cricket from the last 1-2 years as I can see. They are already playing well. But against Pakistan, I think they have been playing some good cricket. If they continue as they have been doing, then I am sure mission 12-0 will happen if we play good cricket and our entire focus will be on cricket," Suryakumar told JioStar.

Suryakumar also opened up about his recent chat with women's captain Harmanpreet, soft-pedalling the buildup surrounding India-Pakistan matches. 

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"I spoke to the captain 2-3 days ago and she said her campaign has started well and everyone is looking in good shape. They also had a good camp here in the Centre of Excellence before the World Cup."

"When the mood is good in the camp, when everyone creates a good culture in the camp, then matches and victories actually become a by-product. My stand will never change on that," he added.

"Because, I will say it again if you talk about rivalry, then rivalry is when you play 12 games and it's a 6-all or 7-5 or something like that. But 11-0 I think, is not a rivalry. If the women's team also focuses completely on playing good cricket today, then I am sure it will be 12-0," he said.

Suryakumar backed all-rounder Deepti Sharma to be the difference-maker against arch-rival Pakistan, anticipating her to play a key part in India's victory.

"I am a batsman but I always think that an all-rounder's role is very important in a team. If an all-rounder can't do it with a bat, then he/ she gets an opportunity to do it with a ball," the India T20I captain said. 

"So, I feel Deepti Sharma may be an x-factor today with the ball, with the bat. And the rest, I would like everyone to contribute from start to end. But I am sure, according to me, Deepti Sharma may be the player of the match today," he added. 

Suryakumar also reserved special praise for vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, calling her "the most consistent performer for India" and commending her record-breaking 63-ball 125 scored against Australia in New Delhi last month.

"When you are a home nation and play in your own country, then there is always pressure on you. But at the same time, we have played so many matches in India in front of the Indian crowd so there is always good support and help," said the India batter.

"But at the same time, everyone, including Smriti Mandhana, I think she has been batting beautifully. Most consistent performer for India. And if she continues then I think it will be everyone's contribution," he further stated

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"It's a good occasion for everyone to chip in, have some runs and then go on in this tournament. So, I am sure it will require a complete team effort in this game today and then obviously going forward in this tournament," he said.

Suryakumar urged fans to rally behind the team's quest to win a World Cup for the first time.

"I am very positive this year. The way the women's team is playing their cricket. The way the mood in the camp is because I still remember when I was injured a few months back and I was at the Centre of Excellence BCCI at Bangalore."

"They had a beautiful camp of I think 15-17 days and I could feel that and I told the coach as well and also the captain that I feel it's a different feeling this year," Suryakumar said.