India’s bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi has urged his team to stay grounded and focused ahead of their highly anticipated Women’s World Cup clash against Pakistan, saying the aim is to treat it purely as a game of cricket rather than getting carried away by the rivalry.
Despite India’s dominant 11-0 record over Pakistan in women’s ODIs, Salvi made it clear that the team is preparing for the contest with full seriousness and respect for the opposition.
“The area of focus will be cricket. We want our girls to bring their A-game on the day. We want them to take it just as a game because the World Cup is a long campaign,” Salvi said on the eve of the match.
Strategic Planning and Calm Approach
Salvi emphasised that meticulous preparation and clarity of plans are key. “We have been telling the team to work on their strategies and plans, be clear with whatever you want to achieve, both as a group and individually,” he explained.
With no bilateral cricket between the two nations, meetings only happen at global events — but that doesn’t make preparation difficult. “There is a lot of information available — footage, patterns — on how a team is playing. You can derive plans out of it. We take every game on its merit and prepare with the best possible mindset,” he added.
Depth in Bowling Is India’s Biggest Strength
India’s squad boasts impressive bowling depth, giving them the flexibility to rest key players like Renuka Thakur in the opening match. Salvi confirmed that workload management will continue to be part of their strategy during the tournament.
“Coming into the tournament, we have around 10 bowling options. It’s a long campaign and we may need the services of any of them. So, whenever rest or recovery is required, we will manage it accordingly,” he noted.
The spin attack — led by Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Shree Charani — has been a consistent match-winning force. “It’s a very good combination with both experience and freshness. They’ve been playing together for the last three-four series, and the chemistry is really working well for us,” said Salvi.
Familiar Conditions in Colombo Could Help
India’s previous experience at the R. Premadasa Stadium could play a key role. During the Tri-series in May, Sneh Rana was named Player of the Tournament for her stellar bowling performances.
“She had a really good series here in May and picked up a lot of wickets. She’s well-versed with the environment and brings that confidence into the squad,” Salvi said.
He added that while the conditions have changed, the team’s familiarity with the venue will help them adapt quickly. “We had our share of understanding the surface. That was a very good experience, and now we take it day by day.”
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