India Women began their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a dominant 64‑run win over arch‑rivals Pakistan in a Group 1 clash at Edgbaston.
After winning the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side elected to bat and posted 170/6. Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs.
Smriti Mandhana spearheaded the innings with a classy 68 off 44 balls, her highest score against Pakistan in the format. She received solid support from captain Harmanpreet Kaur (35) and a rapid cameo by Richa Ghosh, who struck 34 off 17 deliveries, accelerating the scoring in the death overs. India added 105 runs in the final ten overs, highlighting their batting depth.
Pakistan’s chase never found rhythm. Muneeba Ali top‑scored with a gritty 41, but the rest of the lineup faltered against India’s varied attack. Deepti Sharma led the bowling, taking a five‑wicket haul that dismantled the Pakistani middle order and made her the first spinner to reach 350 women’s international wickets. Support from Arundhati Reddy and others kept the pressure high, preventing any substantial partnership.
The win extends India’s superiority in the rivalry and improves their T20 World Cup record against Pakistan. Legends such as Sachin Tendulkar congratulated the team, and the match attracted a massive global audience.
India vs Pakistan: New Attendance Record Set
The encounter on Sunday, 14 June, drew a record‑breaking crowd of 18,814 spectators, the highest‑attended group‑stage match in Women’s T20 World Cup history, surpassing the previous record of 15,935 set in Dubai during the 2024 edition.
