IND vs PAK: India Crushes Pakistan by 64 Runs in Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Opener

The Indian women's cricket team has made a grand entry into the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 by clinching a dominant 64 run victory over Pakistan in their opening Group A fixture. This match, which saw India setting a target of 171 runs, ended with the Pakistani side being bowled out for 106 runs. The victory was anchored by a stellar batting performance from Smriti Mandhana and a historic 5 wicket haul by Deepti Sharma. From the very beginning, the Indian team showed great intent, overcoming early setbacks to post a total that proved to be well beyond Pakistan's reach, while this win sets a positive tone for India as they progress further into the tournament.

Mandhana and Harmanpreet Stabilize the Innings

After winning the toss, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat first, a decision that was tested early when India lost two wickets for just 18 runs. However, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur displayed remarkable composure to rebuild the innings, while the duo put together a vital 91 run partnership for the third wicket, which became the backbone of the Indian total. Smriti Mandhana was in exceptional form, scoring 68 runs off 44 balls, while Harmanpreet Kaur played a captain's knock of 36 runs. Their partnership not only stabilized the innings but also allowed the middle order to play freely in the later stages of the game.

Richa Ghosh's Cameo and Deepti Sharma's Bowling Masterclass

In the death overs, Richa Ghosh played a high impact innings, scoring 34 runs from only 17 deliveries. Her aggressive batting ensured that India reached a formidable total of 170 runs. Pakistan's chase started with a 38 run opening stand between Mubeena Ali and Gul Feroz. However, the momentum shifted drastically when Deepti Sharma was brought into the attack in the 5th over. She dismissed Gul Feroz for 12 runs, which triggered a collapse from which Pakistan could never recover. By the time the score reached 77, five Pakistani batters had already returned to the pavilion. Deepti Sharma led the bowling charts with 5 wickets, while Shri Charani took 3 wickets and Shafali Verma took 1 wicket. Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 106 runs in 17 overs. India's next match is scheduled against the Netherlands on June 17 at Headingley.