The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match at the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in Colombo took an unexpected turn—not because of rain, but due to a bizarre invasion of flying insects.
Rain Was Expected, But Bugs Took Over Instead
After the previous day’s match between Sri Lanka and Australia was washed out due to heavy rain at the R. Premadasa Stadium, fans expected a similar weather disruption. However, clear skies meant play could go ahead—only for another interruption to take center stage.
Midway through the game, both Indian batters and Pakistani fielders began to visibly struggle as swarms of flying bugs invaded the ground. These insects hovered particularly around the pitch and began causing discomfort to players. Indian batters Harleen Deol and Harmanpreet Kaur were seen requesting insect repellent sprays from the dugout in a bid to continue play without distractions.
Unfortunately, the sprays did little to solve the problem.
A Light Moment Amid the Chaos
The situation, though unusual, turned humorous when Pakistan captain Fatima Sana joined the bug battle. She took it upon herself to spray repellent into the air around the field, much to the amusement of her teammates. While the gesture earned a few laughs, it did not deter the persistent bugs.
Eventually, the umpires called for official fumigation after the 34th over. A stadium worker, equipped with a gas mask, walked onto the field and began fumigating the areas surrounding the pitch. While this solution finally began to ease the situation, it also led to a break in momentum for the Indian side.
Batter Jemimah Rodrigues, who had been building her innings steadily, lost her rhythm during the interruption. Shortly after play resumed, she was dismissed on a poorly executed sweep shot, likely thrown off by the break in focus.
Despite the odd disruption, the match resumed and delivered an entertaining contest. But for fans and players alike, it’s the flying bugs—and not just the runs or wickets—that will be remembered from this unusual day in Colombo.
