Women's T20 World Cup 2026: India Crush Pakistan as the Tournament Heats Up
The 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup is up and running in England, and the early matches have already delivered a marquee result — India's emphatic win over arch-rivals Pakistan in one of the group's most-watched fixtures.
India dominate Pakistan
India set the tone with the bat, posting 170 for 6 from their 20 overs, anchored by a fluent 68 from opener Smriti Mandhana. Pakistan never got going in reply, bowled out for 106 in 17 overs as the chase fell away. The 64-run margin underlined the gap between the two sides on the day.
The headline act was Deepti Sharma, whose career-best figures of 5 for 10 dismantled the Pakistan middle order. The spell carried extra significance: it took her to the top of the all-time Women's T20I wicket-takers list, with 166 wickets in 145 matches — a milestone that cements her status as one of the format's defining bowlers.
Around the groups
Elsewhere, Bangladesh got their tournament moving with a six-wicket win over the Netherlands, sealing the result with five balls to spare. Early-stage results like these matter more than they might seem: with tight groups, net run rate can decide who advances, so margins of victory are being watched closely.
The tournament at a glance
This edition runs from 12 June to 5 July 2026, hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Twelve teams are contesting 33 matches across seven venues, making it one of the most expansive women's cricket events to date. The format rewards consistency over the group stage before the knockouts, where a single off day can end a campaign.
What to watch next
With India making an early statement, attention turns to whether the tournament favourites can sustain their form and how the chasing pack responds. Key bowlers like Deepti Sharma will be central to India's hopes, while teams on the margins will be eyeing every run of net run rate as the group stage unfolds.
Sources & further reading
Written by the NDTVS desk from current reporting, including ESPNcricinfo's tournament hub and Google News: Women's T20 World Cup 2026. We summarise and add context; we do not republish other outlets' articles or images.
