BREAKING: India crush Pakistan by 64 runs in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opener

India's Women's Cricket Team launched its 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding 64-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston, fueled by an historic five-wicket haul from all-rounder Deepti Sharma and a crucial half-century from opener Smriti Mandhana. Sharma's career-best figures of 5/10 cemented her status as the leading wicket-taker in Women's T20 Internationals, while Mandhana's 68 runs anchored India's formidable total of 170/6, setting an early, dominant tone for their title aspirations. The emphatic win underscores India's surging momentum in international cricket, following their maiden ICC Women's ODI World Cup triumph in 2025, where Deepti Sharma also played a pivotal role. The highly anticipated match, played before a record sell-out crowd of 18,814 in Birmingham, highlighted the intense rivalry between the two nations, with India extending its T20I dominance over Pakistan to 14 wins in 17 encounters. Pakistan's chase never truly materialized beyond Muneeba Ali 41, as India's spin attack, supported by Shree Charani 3/21, proved too potent. Looking ahead, India, now second in Group A, will face the Netherlands on Wednesday, June 17, at Headingley, aiming to build on their strong Net Run Rate and secure an early semi-final berth. Pakistan, led by Fatima Sana, will need to quickly regroup for their next fixture against South Africa on June 18, as this opening defeat puts immediate pressure on their tournament progression in the expanded 12-team format. The psychological edge gained by India could prove crucial as the tournament, running until July 5, unfolds across England.