India began their Women's T20 World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston on Sunday, powered by an all-round performance from Deepti Sharma. The off-spin all-rounder delivered a match-winning spell of 5 for 10 in four overs as Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs while chasing India's total of 170 for 6.

Earlier, India built a strong foundation through Smriti Mandhana, who struck a fluent 68, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, whose partnership with the opener helped stabilize the innings. Richa Ghosh then provided the finishing touches with a brisk 34, ensuring India posted a challenging total against their arch-rivals in the tournament opener.

Deepti's exceptional bowling performance proved decisive as Pakistan collapsed dramatically from 75 for 3 to 106 all out. Making full use of the assistance available for spinners, she varied her pace effectively and maintained disciplined lines and lengths. The five-wicket haul was the best T20I bowling performance of her career and came at a crucial moment after a difficult start to the year.

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The achievement also saw Deepti reach significant personal milestones. Her five wickets took her tally to 166 wickets in women's T20 internationals, making her the leading wicket-taker in the format. During the match, she also became only the second Indian women's cricketer after Jhulan Goswami to claim more than 350 wickets in international cricket. Reflecting on her performance, Deepti said she never lost confidence despite a lean run during tours of Australia and South Africa earlier in 2026.

Harmanpreet praised both Mandhana and Deepti for delivering when the team needed them most. The Indian captain said the pitch offered fair conditions and credited her side for regaining control after putting unnecessary pressure on themselves early in the innings. She also expressed satisfaction with securing a convincing victory in a group that includes strong opponents such as Australia and South Africa, emphasizing the importance of every league-stage match.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana admitted her side fell short in both batting and bowling. She described the batting display as disappointing and acknowledged that her team became sloppy in the closing overs while defending. Despite the setback, Sana remained hopeful about the young squad's prospects, saying the players would learn from the experience as they continue their campaign in the tournament.

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