India Dominates Pakistan as Deepti Sharma Shines with 5-Wicket Haul in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Opener

India vs Pakistan Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Deepti Sharma’s 5-Wicket Haul Powers India to Emphatic Victory

The Indian women’s cricket team kicked off its ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in style, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by 64 runs in a Group 1 clash at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Sunday.

India produced a complete performance with both bat and ball, posting 170/6 before bundling out Pakistan for 106 in 17 overs. The victory marked India’s 14th win over Pakistan in 17 Women’s T20 Internationals and extended their unbeaten streak against their neighbours to four matches.

Smriti Mandhana Anchors India’s Innings

After being asked to bat first, India suffered an early setback when Shafali Varma was dismissed for six in the opening over. Pakistan struck again in the fourth over as Jemimah Rodrigues departed, leaving India struggling at 18/2.

With the team under pressure, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana combined to rebuild the innings. The experienced duo steadied the ship before accelerating the scoring rate.

Mandhana led the charge, bringing up her 34th T20I half-century in just 34 balls. She eventually scored a brilliant 68 off 44 deliveries to put India in a strong position.

Pakistan briefly fought back with quick wickets. Mandhana was dismissed after being dropped earlier in the innings, while Bharti Fulmali also fell soon after. Harmanpreet contributed a valuable 36 from 35 balls before departing in the 17th over.

Richa Ghosh Provides Late Fireworks

India’s innings received a major boost in the closing stages thanks to Richa Ghosh. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 34 runs from just 17 balls, striking five fours and a six.

Her aggressive finish helped India recover from a middle-order wobble and reach a competitive total of 170/6 in 20 overs.

For Pakistan, Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal claimed two wickets each.

Pakistan Start Well Before Spin Chokes the Chase

Pakistan began their chase positively despite losing Gull Feroza early. Benefiting from dropped chances, Muneeba Ali helped Pakistan reach 52/1 at the end of the powerplay, their highest T20 powerplay score against India.

However, India’s spinners soon took control of the contest.

Deepti Sharma started the collapse by removing Ayesha Zafar before Shree Charani joined the attack with the wicket of Saira Jabeen. Pakistan’s innings then unravelled rapidly.

A crucial turning point came when Muneeba Ali was run out following a direct hit from Deepti Sharma. Shortly afterwards, Shafali Varma dismissed Pakistan captain Fatima Sana for a duck, while Natalia Pervaiz also departed cheaply.

Pakistan lost five wickets for just 26 runs, effectively ending their hopes of chasing the target.

Deepti Sharma Creates History

Deepti Sharma delivered a career-best performance, finishing with remarkable figures of 5/10. The all-rounder surpassed her previous best T20I figures of 5/19 and played a decisive role in India’s victory.

The performance also saw Deepti become the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 International cricket history. She now has 166 wickets in 145 matches, overtaking Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong, who previously held the record with 165 wickets.

Shree Charani provided excellent support with three wickets, while Shafali Varma chipped in with one. Notably, nine of Pakistan’s ten wickets fell to Indian spinners.

India Begin World Cup Campaign in Perfect Fashion

The comprehensive victory gives India an ideal start to their Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and strengthens their position in Group 1.

India will next face the Netherlands at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds on Wednesday as they look to build on their winning start.

IND-W vs PAK-W, Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Brief Scores

India Women: 170/6 in 20 overs
Smriti Mandhana 68, Richa Ghosh 34; Fatima Sana 2/33, Sadia Iqbal 2/41

Pakistan Women: 106 all out in 17 overs
Muneeba Ali 41; Deepti Sharma 5/10, Shree Charani 3 wickets

Result: India Women won by 64 runs.

Tournament Outlook: India Emerges as Early Frontrunner

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has already delivered high-octane drama, with several standout performances setting the stage for an enthralling competition. India’s comprehensive victory over Pakistan has not only bolstered their chances of lifting the trophy but also highlighted the growing competitiveness of women’s cricket on the global stage. With more thrilling encounters on the horizon, fans can expect a tournament filled with excitement, skill, and unforgettable moments.

Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament unfolds!