Smriti Mandhana struck nine fours and two sixes at Edgbaston, dragging India back from the brink of collapse to set up a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan in their opening T20 World Cup match.
The decisive win matters because it marks India's statement of intent in a tournament where they're chasing a piece of sporting history. Having claimed their first women's ODI World Cup crown last November, India now aims to complete a global trophy collection — the men's side already holds both the T20 and 50-over world titles. The women's team's mixed preparation, with wins in Australia offset by losses to South Africa and England, made this opening clash against their arch-rivals all the more crucial for building momentum in Group One.
India's path to 170-6 was far from smooth. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat, but her decision looked questionable when Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues fell cheaply — caught for six and one respectively — leaving India reeling at 18-2 inside four overs. Mandhana, at 29 years old, became the steadying force. She was dropped twice during an innings of remarkable poise: once at mid-off when India stood at 44-2, and again at 55 as the team pushed toward three figures. Those reprieved moments proved costly for Pakistan Captain Fatima Sana's side. Mandhana built a crucial 91-run partnership with Harmanpreet before finally succumbing to Fatima's catch at long-on, her 44-ball innings having turned the tide.
Even then, India stumbled. Bharati Fulmali was stumped for just one off three balls, and the innings stalled to a crawl — no boundary conceded for 21 consecutive deliveries as India reached 132-5 after 18 overs. But Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh injected urgency into the closing moments, plundering 38 runs off the final 12 balls, with Ghosh striking four consecutive boundaries in Tasmia Rubab's over.
Pakistan's reply began promisingly, reaching 52-1 by the end of the powerplay. Then Deepti took control in a performance that announced her as one of the tournament's key threats. The all-rounder claimed India's first two wickets, vanished from the attack, then returned to dismantle Pakistan's middle and lower order, dismissing the final three batters. Her final figures of 5-10 tell the story: five wickets for just ten runs. Leg-spinner Sree Charani added 3-21 as Pakistan's batting collapsed spectacularly. The final seven wickets tumbled for just 31 runs, a cascade of dismissals that saw Pakistan bowled out for 106 with three overs remaining.
The defeat leaves Pakistan facing an uphill climb in a group that also includes South Africa and Australia — who likewise won their opening fixture. For Pakistan, it's a familiar frustration: they haven't beaten India in this format since the 2016 edition. The mathematics are stark now: Pakistan almost certainly needs to defeat both Australia and South Africa to harbor any realistic hope of reaching the semi-finals.
For India, this victory — built on Mandhana's temperament and Deepti's brilliance — provides exactly the kind of statement they needed at the tournament's outset. It's a reminder that when their star players perform under pressure, few sides in world cricket can compete.