India kicked off their Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in style with a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston. In one of cricket’s biggest rivalries, the Indian women’s team delivered a complete performance, with Smriti Mandhana’s elegant batting and Deepti Sharma’s historic five-wicket haul stealing the spotlight.
The high-voltage clash attracted thousands of fans and lived up to its billing as India outclassed Pakistan in every department.
Smriti Mandhana Anchors India’s Innings
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, India faced early pressure as Pakistan’s bowlers started well. However, opener Smriti Mandhana once again proved why she is one of the most dependable batters in world cricket.
The left-hander played a composed yet aggressive knock of 68 runs from just 44 balls, mixing elegant drives with powerful shots all around the ground. Her innings included several boundaries and helped India recover after losing early wickets.
Mandhana built a crucial partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed a valuable 36 runs. Their partnership stabilized the innings and laid the foundation for a competitive total.
Just when Pakistan looked set to restrict India, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh changed the momentum completely.
Richa Ghosh Provides the Perfect Finish
Richa Ghosh played a fearless cameo, smashing 34 runs off just 17 deliveries. Her aggressive batting in the final overs helped India post an impressive total of 170/6 in 20 overs.
The late acceleration proved to be the turning point of the match as Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs.
India’s batting performance showcased depth, experience, and intent—three qualities that could define their World Cup campaign.
Pakistan Start Well But Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing 171, Pakistan began confidently and registered one of their best powerplay performances against India in Women’s T20 internationals.
Opener Muneeba Ali looked in excellent touch and kept Pakistan in the hunt with a fighting 41 runs. At one stage, Pakistan appeared capable of putting pressure on the Indian bowlers.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically once Deepti Sharma entered the attack.
Her clever variations, accurate line and length, and ability to read the batters completely changed the course of the game.
Deepti Sharma Scripts History with a Five-Wicket Haul
If Mandhana set up the victory, Deepti Sharma sealed it in unforgettable fashion.
The star all-rounder produced a sensational spell of 5 wickets for just 10 runs, registering one of the best bowling figures by an Indian player in Women’s T20 World Cup history.
Deepti dismissed key Pakistani batters at crucial moments and triggered a dramatic collapse. Pakistan, who were once in a comfortable position, lost wickets regularly and eventually folded for just 106 runs.
Her outstanding performance also helped her achieve another major milestone by becoming the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals.
The bowling unit received excellent support from the rest of the attack as India maintained relentless pressure throughout the innings.
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A Massive Boost for India’s World Cup Campaign
The convincing victory not only earned India two valuable points but also provided a significant boost to their net run rate.
Starting a World Cup campaign with a dominant win against arch-rivals Pakistan sends a strong message to the other teams in the tournament.
India displayed balance in both batting and bowling, which will give the team plenty of confidence heading into the upcoming group-stage matches.
With experienced players stepping up and youngsters contributing at key moments, India looks well-prepared for a deep run in the tournament.
What This Victory Means
The India-Pakistan rivalry always generates enormous excitement, but this match highlighted the growing quality and popularity of women’s cricket.
From Mandhana’s classy stroke play to Deepti’s match-winning spell, fans witnessed a complete performance from the Indian team.
As the tournament progresses, Indian supporters will hope their team can maintain this momentum and continue delivering similar performances on the biggest stage.
For now, the spotlight belongs to two stars who made the difference—Smriti Mandhana with the bat and Deepti Sharma with the ball.
India’s Women’s T20 World Cup journey has begun in the perfect way, and the rest of the cricketing world has been put on notice.
