IND vs PAK: Smriti Mandhana powers India after early setbacks against Pakistan in Women’s T20 World Cup

Smriti Mandhana steadied India's innings with a composed half-century after the team suffered early setbacks against Pakistan in Match 6 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Post Published By: Rohit Goyal

Updated : 14 June 2026, 8:07 PM IST

Smriti Mandhana Fifty

Edgbaston: Smriti Mandhana steadied India's innings with a composed half-century after the team suffered early setbacks against Pakistan in Match 6 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Pakistan struck early when Tasmia Rubab dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues, leaving India two wickets down after captain Harmanpreet Kaur had won the toss and elected to bat first.

Mandhana Anchors India's Innings

Mandhana responded with a fluent knock, bringing up her fifty in impressive fashion. The left-hander accelerated after receiving a reprieve earlier in her innings and found boundaries with ease, relying more on timing and placement than power.

Her innings helped India regain momentum as she looked set to shift gears further during the middle overs.

India Aim for Strong Start

India entered the tournament as one of the favourites, looking to build on the confidence gained from their historic ICC Women's Cricket World Cup triumph at home last year, which ended the team's long wait for a major ICC trophy.

Facing arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening campaign fixture, India also held a significant advantage in the head-to-head record between the two sides.

High-Stakes Clash at Edgbaston

With both teams eager to make a strong start in the tournament, the India-Pakistan encounter attracted significant attention, as fans witnessed another chapter in one of cricket's most celebrated rivalries.