Our Bureau
Edgbaston
India began their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by 64 runs at Edgbaston on Sunday. A dominant all-round display, led by Smriti Mandhana’s fluent half-century and Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul, handed India a commanding victory in their Group 1 opener.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, India posted a competitive 170 for 6 in 20 overs. Mandhana anchored the innings with a brilliant 68 off 44 deliveries, striking nine boundaries and two sixes. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a steady 36, while Richa Ghosh provided late momentum with an explosive 34 off just 17 balls. Their efforts ensured India finished strongly despite regular breakthroughs by Pakistan’s bowlers.
Pakistan’s chase began positively, with the top order showing intent during the powerplay. Opener Muneeba Ali top-scored with 41 and briefly kept her side in contention. However, India’s spin attack tightened its grip as the innings progressed, triggering a dramatic collapse.
The star of the evening was Deepti Sharma, who delivered a match-winning spell of 5 for 10 in four overs. Her disciplined bowling dismantled Pakistan’s middle and lower order, restricting them to 106 all out in 17 overs. Deepti’s performance earned her the Player of the Match award and helped India secure a significant boost to their net run rate early in the tournament.
The victory extends India’s strong record against Pakistan in women’s World Cup competitions and sends a clear message to the rest of the teams as they pursue their first Women’s T20 World Cup title.
