Mandhana and Deepti star as India beat Pakistan

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India dominates Pakistan in T20 World Cup opener

Published 14 June 2026

T20 World Cup, Group 1, Edgbaston

India 170-6 (20 overs): Mandhana 68 (44); Fatima 2-33

Pakistan 106 (17 overs): Muneeba 41 (35); Deepti 5-10

India won by 64 runs

Scorecard; Tables

Smriti Mandhana contributed 68 runs, while Deepti Sharma claimed figures of 5-10, as India launched their T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding 64-run victory over fierce rivals Pakistan in Group One.

Opening batter Mandhana, who was let off twice during her innings, struck nine fours and two sixes to guide India to 170-6.

Pakistan began their chase strongly, reaching 52-1 at the conclusion of the powerplay, but all-rounder Deepti Sharma claimed the first two wickets before returning to remove the final three batters, dismissing the ODI world champions for 106.

Captain Fatima Sana's team lost their last seven wickets for just 31 runs and were bowled out with three overs remaining, with leg-spinner Sree Charani also recording figures of 3-21.

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat after winning the toss, but saw her side slip to 18-2 within four overs as Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues were caught for six and one respectively.

Mandhana rescued her team from difficulty, though she was dropped on 27 at mid-off when India were 44-2, and again on 55 as her side approached the 100-run mark.

The 29-year-old forged a 91-run stand with Harmanpreet before being caught by Fatima at long-on.

Pakistan slowed India's momentum for several overs, but Deepti and Richa Ghosh smashed 38 runs off the final 12 balls to post a total that proved beyond Pakistan's reach.

India follow Australia, who also won their opening fixture, in setting a benchmark in Group One, while Pakistan now confront a difficult path to qualify from a pool that also includes South Africa.

India's depth on display in victory

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'Exceptional' Sharma takes five wickets in win over Pakistan

India entered this competition aiming to complete their nation's collection of global trophies, following their first World Cup triumph in the one-day format in November, with the men's team also holding the international 20 and 50-over titles.

Their preparation has been uneven, including a T20 series win in Australia but subsequent losses on tours in the format to both South Africa and England since April.

Although their margin of victory over Pakistan was ultimately comfortable, the win was not without challenges.

Mandhana laid a foundation, striking confidently on the off side en route to a 34-ball half-century, but her dismissal alongside that of Harmanpreet slowed India's progress.

Bharti Fulmali was stumped for a three-ball one, and India went 21 deliveries without a boundary as they reached 132-5 at the end of the 18th over.

However, India's lower middle-order then fired, with Ghosh hitting four consecutive boundaries in Tasmia Rubab's 23-run penultimate over.

Fatima bowled Ghosh in her final over but conceded seven runs in extras, while Deepti finished with 12 runs from nine deliveries.

Pakistan have not beaten India since the 2016 edition of the competition and will now likely need to defeat both Australia and South Africa to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.