India endured an early setback against Pakistan in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group 1 opener at Edgbaston after losing two quick wickets inside the powerplay, but Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the innings to keep the side in contention. India were reduced to 18 for 2 in just 3.2 overs after losing Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues cheaply, putting immediate pressure on the batting lineup in a high-stakes contest between the two arch-rivals.

Shafali Verma provided a brief but explosive start before falling early, while Jemimah Rodrigues’ dismissal further deepened India’s trouble inside the first four overs. Pakistan’s bowlers maintained tight lines in the early phase, using the conditions effectively to restrict scoring opportunities and force mistakes from the Indian top order. The early breakthroughs gave Pakistan a strong foothold in the match and briefly shifted momentum in their favour.

However, Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with controlled aggression, finding gaps and rotating strike to prevent further collapse. At the other end, Harmanpreet Kaur joined her at the crease and focused on rebuilding the innings with a cautious but steady approach. The pair worked to stabilise India after the early damage, ensuring the scoreboard continued to move despite the pressure from Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack.

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Earlier in the match, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first, backing her side to set a competitive total on a surface that has already seen multiple games in the tournament. The decision reflected confidence in India’s batting depth despite the early setbacks, with conditions at Edgbaston expected to remain balanced but slightly helpful for bowlers who hit the right lengths.

The match also continued the reported “no handshake” stance between the two teams, as Harmanpreet Kaur did not engage in the customary greeting with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana at the toss. The fixture, already charged with intensity due to the historic rivalry, drew significant attention as both teams began their campaign in Group 1, which is expected to be highly competitive.

With Mandhana and Harmanpreet rebuilding the innings after the early collapse, India aimed to recover and post a defendable total, while Pakistan looked to maintain pressure through their bowling attack and capitalize on any further breakthroughs.

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