India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the performances of Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh following a dominant 64-run victory over Pakistan on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The match, held at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, marked a perfect start to India’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign as they successfully defended a total of 170.
India elected to bat after winning the toss and posted 170/6 in their 20 overs, headlined by a stylish 68 from Smriti Mandhana. Pakistan’s response never gained momentum, as they were bowled out for 106 in the 17th over. All-rounder Deepti Sharma spearheaded the bowling attack with career-best figures, ensuring India secured their 14th win over their rivals in this format.
Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her gratitude toward the supporters at Edgbaston, noting how the fans provided a significant lift for the squad. She specifically pointed to the composure shown by Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma, stating they are “always there to push the team” during critical moments of the game. Our latest sport news updates cover the broader impact of these high-stakes international tournaments.
Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh power Indian innings
After a cautious start where India felt they “unnecessarily put pressure” on themselves, Smriti Mandhana found her rhythm. She struck 68 runs off 44 balls, a knock featuring nine boundaries and two sixes. Harmanpreet Kaur played a supporting role with 36 runs off 35 balls, as the pair sought to control the game on what the captain described as a “decent pitch.”
The acceleration in the final overs came from Richa Ghosh, who smashed 34 runs off just 17 deliveries. Her aggressive cameo included five fours and a six, providing the necessary strike rate to push India toward a formidable total. Harmanpreet Kaur joked that if she could, she would “love to send her on the first ball” given her current form.
The total of 170 proved far beyond Pakistan’s reach, despite two wickets each for Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal. India’s middle-order efficiency highlighted the gulf between the two sides. This consistent performance by veteran stars mirrors the high standards seen elsewhere, such as when technical drills are led by elite performers to sharpen a team’s execution under pressure.
Deepti Sharma sets world record with five-wicket haul
The second innings belonged to Deepti Sharma, who claimed 5 wickets for just 10 runs in her four overs. This performance did more than just secure the win; it made her the highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20I history with 166 career scalps. Deepti Sharma noted that she enjoyed the turning surface and intentionally “kept varying my pace” to deceive the Pakistan batters.
Pakistan struggled to stay in the hunt as wickets fell regularly. Muneeba Ali provided the only significant resistance with 41 runs off 35 balls, while Aliya Riaz managed 18. Shree Charani effectively cleaned up the middle and lower order, finishing with 3 wickets for 21 runs. This clinical bowling display left Pakistan trailing by a massive 64-run margin.
The victory provides India with a crucial advantage in the group standings, particularly regarding their net run-rate. Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized that “every league game is important,” and the substantial margin of victory could be a deciding factor later in the tournament. India’s fielding also drew praise from the captain, who highlighted the clean catching as a core reason for the result.
Looking ahead, the Indian camp remains focused on maintaining this discipline throughout the group stages in the United Kingdom. With the senior core delivering record-breaking performances, the team has set a high bar for the remainder of the World Cup. Fans can follow the remaining fixtures live on Sky Sports or stream through the NOW platform.
