Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Smriti fifty, Deepti five-fer take India to 64-run win against Pakistan in opener

Richa Ghosh could breathe life into the death overs the way few women do.

Her explosive batting is something India depends heavily on. It is crucial to India’s campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

In front of a big, noisy, colourful, crowd, made up largely of Asian origin on a sunny afternoon at Edgbaston, she came out to bat when India desperately wanted her to fire. She did.

Her magnificent onslaught (34, 17b, 5×4, 1×6) turned India’s score from a potentially competitive one into a winning one against Pakistan. The less resourceful of the Asian neighbours was always going to find the target of 171 daunting.

So it proved. The Women in Blue won by 64 runs, to start their campaign on a satisfactory note.

In the Group of Death, in which it has to face Australia and South Africa, India could not have afforded a hiccup in the opening match. But, the innings had wobbled, and the PowerPlay had belonged to Pakistan.

It required all the skills and experience of India’s most accomplished batters, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (68, 44b, 9×4, 2×6) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (36, 35b, 4×4) to steady the ship, and to set the stage for Richa’s finish. The innings had begun in rousing fashion though, with Shafali Verma hitting the first ball for six, as she effortlessly lofted Sadia Iqbal over long-off.

The left-arm spinner, however, had her revenge the very next over. Shafali backed away to produce a faint edge, which was smartly taken behind the stumps by Muneeba Ali. Before long, Jemimah Rodrigues played too ambitiously too early against Tasmia Rubab, skying a catch to extra cover, where Natalia Pervaiz fumbled but completed the catch on her second attempt, and threw ball down hard to the ground, as if admonishing it for causing her, and her team, a few anxious seconds.

The Indian dugout must have now felt a bit anxious. But Smriti, who hadn’t come to the tournament in great touch, and Harmanpreet calmed those nerves. They knew they needed to bat deep on a surface that wasn’t quite a belter, against an attack that was testing.

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The duo put on 91 for the third wicket. Smriti, who had been dropped on a couple of occasions, may not have been at her very best, though she did play some of those lovely shots you have grown accustomed to. The team management must be pretty pleased that their best batter has started off well.

Smriti’s dismissal triggered a collapse though, as India slid from 109 for two to 123 for five. At this stage, Pakistan may have sensed an opportunity. But Richa and Deepti Sharma took 23 off Tasmia in the 19th over.

In reply, Pakistan began well, with Muneeba (41, 35b, 5×4) and Gull Feroza adding 38 for the opening wicket. That would prove by far the biggest partnership of the innings, as India bowled and fielded with vigour, not even allowing its familiar rival to hope. Deepti led the Indian attack in admirable fashion, finishing with five for 10.

Published on Jun 14, 2026