India opened their 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a resounding 64-run victory over rivals Pakistan. A historic five-wicket haul by Deepti Sharma and an aggressive half-century from Smriti Mandhana sealed the match for India before a record-breaking group-stage crowd in Birmingham.
Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77-run knock and a clinical bowling masterclass from Varun Chakaravarthy led India to a dominant 61-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Defending a target of 176, the Indian attack dismantled the Pakistan lineup for just 114 runs, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the T20 World Cup 2026 and officially securing a place in the next round.
As India prepares for their high-stakes World Cup match against Pakistan, Ravichandran Ashwin has shared a unique strategy to counter Usman Tariq’s “stop-and-pause” action. By stepping away from the crease during the bowler’s hesitation, Ashwin suggests Indian batters can use the “dead ball” rule to break Tariq’s rhythm and shift the psychological pressure back onto the opposition.
