India Crush Pakistan by 64 Runs as Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma Shine in Women's T20 World Cup 2026

June 16, 2026: India began their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, registering a comprehensive 64-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan. In a high-pressure clash, the Women in Blue delivered a near-perfect performance with both bat and ball, posting 170/6 before bowling Pakistan out for just 106. The win not only earned India two crucial points in Group A but also provided a significant boost to their Net Run Rate early in the tournament.

Asked to bat first, India suffered an early setback when Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues departed inside the opening four overs, leaving the team in a difficult position at 18/2. However, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana once again rose to the occasion. The experienced left-hander played a magnificent innings of 68 off 44 deliveries, striking nine fours and two sixes to put Pakistan's bowlers under pressure.

Mandhana found excellent support from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and together the pair rebuilt the innings through a crucial 91-run partnership. While Harmanpreet played the anchor's role with a composed 36 off 35 balls, Mandhana dominated the scoring and reached her half-century in just 34 deliveries. Pakistan were also guilty of dropping two chances offered by Mandhana, mistakes that proved costly as she guided India back into a commanding position.

Mandhana, Richa and Deepti Star in Complete Indian Display

Just when Pakistan looked to have regained some control following Mandhana's dismissal, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh produced another impactful cameo. The young star smashed 34 runs off only 17 balls, attacking the bowlers from the outset and ensuring India finished strongly. Her aggressive batting in the final overs added valuable runs and helped push the total to a challenging 170/6.

For Pakistan, captain Fatima Sana and spinner Sadia Iqbal were the most successful bowlers, picking up two wickets each. However, neither could prevent India from building momentum throughout the innings as the batting unit consistently found ways to keep the scoreboard moving.

It's all blue in Edgbaston 💙

We are away in the mission #T20WorldCup in fine fashion ✌️

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/1tfRc3jcrX#TeamIndia | #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/slDhUJnXY5

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 14, 2026

Chasing 171, Pakistan needed a positive start but instead found themselves under immediate pressure from India's disciplined bowling attack. Renuka Singh Thakur and Shreyanka Patil kept things tight with the new ball, denying Pakistan's batters any early momentum and forcing them to take risks.

The pressure created by the pacers allowed India's spinners to take complete control of the contest. Deepti Sharma delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament so far, producing a sensational five-wicket haul. Her accuracy, variations, and ability to break partnerships at crucial moments left Pakistan with no room to recover. Radha Yadav also played an important supporting role, ensuring the scoring rate remained firmly under control during the middle overs.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana attempted to keep her side in the contest with a few attacking strokes, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. The required run rate quickly climbed beyond ten runs per over, and the middle order struggled to cope with India's relentless pressure. Every time Pakistan attempted to launch a counterattack, India's bowlers responded with another breakthrough.

7-2 in Women's T20 WC.
8-1 in Men's T20 WC.

DOMINANCE BY INDIA OVER PAKISTAN IN ICC TOURNAMENTS...!!! 🇮🇳😍 pic.twitter.com/OWHy32hC4n

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 14, 2026

As the innings progressed, the outcome became increasingly inevitable. Pakistan's batters failed to build any meaningful partnerships, and the chase eventually lost all momentum. India's bowlers maintained their intensity until the very end, bowling Pakistan out for just 106 and sealing a commanding 64-run victory.

The result extends India's impressive record against Pakistan in Women's T20 World Cups and reinforces their status as one of the strongest contenders in the tournament. More importantly, it showcased the balance within the Indian squad, with senior players and younger stars all making important contributions.

From Mandhana's classy half-century and Harmanpreet's calm leadership to Richa's explosive finish and Deepti's match-winning spell, India ticked every box in their tournament opener. With confidence high and their Net Run Rate significantly boosted, the Women in Blue have sent an early warning to the rest of the field that they are fully prepared for a deep run at ICC Women's T20 World Cup glory.