India Women made a commanding start to their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by 64 runs in a high-stakes Group
1 encounter at Edgbaston.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur's side posted a competitive 170/6, before bowling out Pakistan for 106 in 17 overs.
Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a classy 68 off 44 balls, her highest score against Pakistan in the format, setting a strong platform. She found good support from captain Harmanpreet Kaur (35) and an explosive cameo from Richa Ghosh, who smashed 34 off just 17 deliveries, including powerful hits that accelerated the scoring in the death overs. India managed 105 runs in the last 10 overs, showcasing their batting depth.
Pakistan's chase never gained momentum. Muneeba Ali top-scored with a gritty 41, but the rest of the batting lineup struggled against India's varied attack. Deepti Sharma was the star with the ball, claiming a five-wicket haul that dismantled the middle order. Her spell not only restricted scoring but also saw her become the first spinner to reach 350 women's international wickets. Supporting cast including Arundhati Reddy and others kept the pressure high, with regular wickets preventing any meaningful partnership.
The victory extends India's dominance in the rivalry, improving their T20 World Cup record against Pakistan. Sachin Tendulkar and other Indian legends congratulated the team, while the match drew massive global viewership.
India vs Pakistan: New Attendance Record Created
Along with plenty of records created on the field, the fans made it a memorable encounter for a different reason. The India vs Pakistan clash on Sunday (June 14) in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 attracted a record-breaking crowd of 18,814 spectators, making it the highest-attended group-stage match in Women's T20 World Cup history, surpassing the previous record of 15,935 set by the same fixture in Dubai during the 2024 edition.
