India made a strong start against Pakistan in the opening game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 104 for 2 after 13 overs, with Smriti Mandhana bringing up a well-crafted fifty.
At Edgbaston in Birmingham, India elected to bat after winning the toss. Their innings began with an early setback as Shafali Verma was dismissed for 6 by Sadia Iqbal when the score was 6.
The second breakthrough for Pakistan came at 18 runs when Jemimah Rodrigues managed only 1 run before Tasmia Rubab removed her.
Thousands of fans from both nations filled the stadium ahead of the contest to support their teams. Notably, the captains did not exchange handshakes following the toss.
Harmanpreet Kaur explained that the batting-friendly conditions influenced India’s decision to set a target. She also credited the confidence gained from the last World Cup and emphasized sticking to the team’s strategy.
Fatima Sana noted that Pakistan would have chosen to bat as well. She highlighted her team’s recent strength in both departments of the game, particularly their bowling resources.
According to the Pakistan skipper, the wicket appears suitable for run-scoring, but she believes her team has the right balance to challenge India in what promises to be a closely fought encounter.
