- India beat rivals Pakistan by 64 runs to start their title bid in style.
- Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul and Smriti Mandhana’s excellent 68 anchored an impressive all-round team performance.
- A crowd of 18,814 packed into Edgbaston, the highest ever for an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group Stage match.
Deepti Sharma took the second five-wicket haul of her T20I career as India convincingly beat Pakistan to begin their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a high.
A crowd of 18,814 were at Edgbaston to watch the two rivals go head-to-head, the highest-ever attendance for an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group Stage match.
And they were not disappointed, as India overpowered their opponents to begin Group A in style.
India (ICC T20I Ranking: 3) posted 170 for six from their 20 overs, thanks to the excellent hitting of opening batter Smriti Mandhana, before Sharma helped to bowl Pakistan (ICC T20I Ranking: 8) out for 106.
India next face the Netherlands at Headingley on Wednesday, while Pakistan stay at Edgbaston to play South Africa that same evening in the second of five group games.
MAGIC MANDHANA AND GHOSH FIREWORKS HELP INDIA RECOVER
India won the toss and elected to bat in front of a raucous Edgbaston, and Shafali Verma wasted no time in getting started.
The opener smashed Sadia Iqbal’s first ball of the match for six over long-off, but the rapturous Indian fans were temporarily quietened four balls later when the opener was out caught behind.
Pakistan supporters went wild when Jemimah Rodrigues then departed in the fourth over, Natalia Pervaiz grabbing it at the second opportunity, to give Tasmia Rubab her first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup wicket.
But Mandhana began to settle, striking consecutive boundaries off Rameen Shamim in the fifth over to take India to 38 for two at the end of the powerplay.
Mandhana was dropped by Aliya Riaz running back at mid-off, and she made Pakistan pay by unveiling her full repertoire of shots including a stylish six off Rubab over long-off.
Her 34-ball half-century came in the 12th over courtesy of a trademark drive over extra cover, while Pakistan were left to rue another dropped catch as Saira Jabeen spilled the ball on the midwicket boundary and also tipped it over the rope for six.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur had largely sat back and watched to this point, but she took India to three figures in the 13th over, which yielded 19.
In the following over, Mandhana’s fun was ended on 68 by a smart Fatima catch, breaking the 91-run stand, and Bharti Fulmali (1) followed soon after.
When Fatima dismissed Kaur (36), it looked as though the Indian innings may drift to its close, but a late cameo by Richa Ghosh (34 off 17) carried them to 170 for six off their 20 overs, their highest ICC Women’s T20 World Cup total against Pakistan.
SPIN STRANGLES PAKISTAN
Hunting a competition record run-chase, Muneeba Ali got Pakistan’s reply underway in the perfect fashion.
She slashed Arundhati Reddy’s first ball over third man for four, before Ghosh put down an edge off Shreyanka Patil behind the stumps in the second over.
Muneeba scooped Kranti Gaud and Gull Feroza slashed behind point for further boundaries, the seamer’s first over going for 14 to leave Pakistan 25 for nought after three.
Muneeba was given another lifeline on 20, dropped by Reddy off Patil, before Sharma’s introduction into the attack paid instant dividends with the wicket of Gull, caught reverse-sweeping straight to Fulmali.
Ayesha Zafar hit Reddy for back-to-back fours as Pakistan continued to score quickly, mustering 52 from the powerplay.
But Sharma struck again three balls into the seventh, Ayesha (12) sweeping straight to Mandhana with spin proving difficult to get away.
The brakes were applied on Pakistan’s innings and Sree Charani had Saira (2) top-edging straight to Kaur in the eighth over as they fell to 58 for three.
Muneeba’s sweep off Charani in the 10th over brought the first boundary in almost four overs, but she was brilliantly run out by Sharma for 41 to further dent Pakistan’s progress.
Captain Fatima (0) lasted only three balls and Natalia (7) went in the following over as they stumbled to 79 for six in the 13th over.
Patil athletically caught Rameen off Charani (3/21), before Sharma wrapped things up with three wickets in an over to leave her with career best T20I figures of five for 10, as Pakistan were bowled out for 106.
Scores in brief
India v Pakistan – Edgbaston, Birmingham
India 170/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 68, Harmanpreet Kaur 36; Fatima Sana 2/33, Sadia Iqbal 2/41)
Pakistan 106 all out in 17 overs (Muneeba Ali 41, Aliya Riaz 18; Deepti Sharma 5/10, Sree Charani 3/21)
Result: India beat Pakistan by 64 runs