Huge all-round performance at Edgbaston as India start 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup with win over Pakistan Even before the toss took place – India opting to bat first after winning it, but that was later in Question Time — a versatile heavyweight clash had captured attention like no other. The decision was indicative of self-belief in the batting lineup and faith that scoreboard pressure could be a factor on an occasion this big.
Before the match, one of the biggest talking points was India with their team selection. Management decided to have Bharti Fulmali over Yastika Bhatia, who was the initial wicketkeeper-batter. Richa Ghosh, however remained the only choice for wicket keeping responsibilities whereas Fulmali was picked to bolster batting. Bhatia’s experience and versatility have made her a go-to replacement in big tournaments before – leading to spirited debate among fans and pundits alike when the move was announced.
India got off to a slightly bumpy start in their innings. Pakistan bowlers bowled tight and wanted to break the alliance at right times in front 52 balls later also. But the seasoned Indian batters were calmness itself, quickly taking control of what had become a contest. Smriti Mandhana proved again why she is one of the best batters in women’s cricket She guided the innings superbly with poise and confidence, ensuring India powered through middle overs.
A solid score was all due to Mandhana,who scored 68 off just 44 deliveries. She tempered caution with aggression, frequently found the ropes and rotated the strike well. Her innings ensured that India came through the initial pressure and also provided stability at a critical stage of the match. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur made an important 36 runs as well to provide further support and keep the scoring rate up.
Fulmali didn’t make a mark on this occasion as she too succumbed in single digits, out for one run but India kept going. Down the order, Richa Ghosh played a lively cameo to finish it off. Coming in when the 40 overs had passed, her fast scoring output of 34 off just 17 deliveries provided impetus to close out the innings. With notable performances from multiple batters, India posted a formidable 170 for 6 in their full complement of the innings (20 overs).
It was a tough ask for Pakistan but they batted very well in the initial overs of their chase. They were attacking their batters and registered their highest powerplay score in women’s T20Is against India. Pakistan did seem like they would really push on there for a while, coming hard at the Indian bowlers and reducing them to back of line. The seasoned Indian bowlers
Deepti Sharma was the standout bowler, and that is where things turned for us. Her spell was one of the greatest seen in a Women’s T20 World Cup match. Her accuracy, variations and knack of smelling pressure situations were too much for the Pakistan batting line up. Deepti’s figures of 5/10 saw her pace through the middle and lower order.
Pakistan had started off well, but the writing was on the wall as wickets continued falling for Pakistan and it turned into a collapse. India grabbed control of the game as their bowlers continued to stem runs and create opportunities for mistakes forcing tight scoring situations on opponents. Deepti broke the tsunami, and after that Pakistan never got back in chase as they were bundled out for 106.
Perfect start: India won by 64 runs to begin their World Cup campaign. The victory showcased the team’s depth, balance and tendency to thrive under pressure in a major tournament. While Mandhana’s classy fifty, Harman preet’s captaincy, Richa wrapping it up at the end and Deepti bowling her match-winning spell helped India thrash Bangladesh fairly easily. The choice to play the Indian team had remained a major pre-match talking point but it was India’s commanding all-round display that ensured beating their biggest rivals made headline news.
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