Smriti Mandhana Magic, Deepti’s Five-For Sink Pakistan as India Cruise in World Cup Opener

India Women made a commanding start to their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign , registering a comprehensive 64-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston on Sunday, driven by a brilliant batting display from Smriti Mandhana and a match-winning spell from Deepti Sharma .

Put in to bat, India posted a competitive 170 for 6 in 20 overs , despite early setbacks. The innings was anchored by Mandhana, who played a fluent and elegant knock of 68 off 44 balls , laced with nine boundaries and two sixes . Her timing and footwork stood out on a surface offering occasional grip.

India were rocked early after losing Shafali Verma (6) and Jemimah Rodrigues (1) cheaply, slipping to 18 for 2 . However, captain Harmanpreet Kaur (36 off 35 balls) joined Mandhana to stitch a crucial 91-run partnership for the third wicket , steadying the innings before accelerating through the middle overs.

Harmanpreet mixed caution with aggression, using sweep shots and crease depth effectively, while Mandhana continued to dominate, reaching her half-century in just 34 balls . She was eventually dismissed after a mistimed shot, well taken by Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana .

India’s late surge came through Richa Ghosh , who provided a powerful finish with 34 off 17 balls , ensuring India crossed 170. A costly penultimate over from Pakistan seamer Tasmia Rubab , which leaked 23 runs, further tilted momentum India’s way.

In response, Pakistan never settled against India’s disciplined spin attack. The only meaningful resistance came from Muneeba Ali (41 off 35 balls) , but wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

The standout performer was Deepti Sharma , who produced a sensational spell of 5 wickets for 10 runs in 4 overs , dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup. She also became the highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals history during the match. Supporting her, Shree Charani (3/21) also impressed with her control and variations.

Pakistan were eventually bundled out for 106 in 17 overs , with India’s spinners exploiting turn and grip on a surface that increasingly assisted slow bowlers. Deepti also contributed in the field, effecting a sharp direct-hit run-out to dismiss Muneeba.

Earlier in the match, India also continued the “no handshake” policy with Pakistan at the toss and after the game, in line with the reported BCCI stance followed in recent multilateral tournaments.

With this emphatic win, India not only opened their campaign on a strong note but also sent a clear message with a dominant all-round performance in Birmingham.