India posted a dominant performance against Pakistan in their opening Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 match at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The Indian squad scored 209 runs in their 20 overs before restricting Pakistan to 145, securing a convincing 64-run victory.
Smriti Mandhana led India’s batting with an aggressive 68 runs from 48 deliveries. Her aggressive approach set the tone early, with the Indian middle order capitalizing on the momentum she created.
Pakistan struggled with the English conditions and the pace of the Indian bowling attack. Deepti Sharma took 5 wickets for 10 runs, a standout performance that dismantled Pakistan’s lower middle order on a day when batting proved difficult.
The victory positioned India as strong contenders for the tournament. Their combination of aggressive batting and disciplined bowling suggested a team capable of challenging for the trophy.
Pakistan, the defending champions from the 2024 tournament, faced pressure immediately. Their top-order batters struggled to adjust to India’s bowling attack, raising questions about team preparation heading into the tournament.
