India Dominates Pakistan by 64 Runs in T20 World Cup Opener, Led by Mandhana and Sharma
India's commanding victory establishes a strong early position in Group A of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
The story
A passionate crowd at Edgbaston, Birmingham, witnessed India secure a decisive 64-run win over arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. After electing to bat first, India recovered from an early wobble at 18/2, thanks to a crucial 91-run partnership between vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored a fluent 68 off 44 balls, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed 36. A late surge from Richa Ghosh, smashing 34 off just 17 deliveries, propelled India to a formidable total of 170/6.
Pakistan's chase never gained significant momentum. Despite Muneeba Ali's resilient 41, the Indian spin attack proved too potent. Deepti Sharma was the chief architect of Pakistan's downfall, delivering a career-best spell of 5/10 from her four overs. Supported by Shree Charani's 3/21, India bowled Pakistan out for 106 in 17 overs, sealing a comprehensive victory and an ideal start to their World Cup campaign.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| India vs Pakistan | T20I | India won by 64 runs | Deepti Sharma (5/10) |
| Bangladesh vs Netherlands | T20I | Bangladesh won by 6 wickets | Juairiya Firdous (50) |
Series in play
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. Group stage in progress
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Group A | Australia leads, India second | Top two teams from each group qualify for semi-finals. |
| ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Group B | England leads | Early stages of the group standings. |
What we'll be watching
- June 16, Tuesday: New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women (Hampshire Bowl, Southampton)
- June 16, Tuesday: England Women vs Ireland Women (Hampshire Bowl, Southampton)
- June 17, Wednesday: India Women vs Netherlands Women (Headingley, Leeds)
- June 17, Wednesday: Australia Women vs Bangladesh Women (Headingley, Leeds)
- June 17, Wednesday: Pakistan Women vs South Africa Women (Edgbaston, Birmingham)
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