India Women vs Pakistan Women, 6th Match, Group A, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 - CommentaryINDW vs PAKW, 6th Match, Group A, ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

Two things that didn't surprise us. There were no handshakes between the two sides after the completion of the game. And, another one-sided game between the neighbours with India emerging victorious. Pakistan actually outplayed India in the powerplay but India still managed to win by a healthy margin. How did that happen? Smriti-Harmanpreet partnership, Richa Ghosh's impressive knock in the death overs and then the spinners choking the opponents. Harmanpreet and Co. will be mighty pleased with this performance and on that note, it's time to bring the curtains down on this encounter. After a day off, we'll be back on Tuesday for another double header. Until then, it's goodbye from Abhinand Raghavendran, Akshay Maanay, Pradeep Krishnamurthy and Siva.

Harmanpreet Kaur | India captain: Yeah, definitely. Very happy and firstly, I want to thank all Indian fans. They've been amazing. They've been there for us. So, we really, really want to thank them. (On Smriti and Deepti rising to the occasion) Whenever we need, they're always there to push the team. So, really happy the way they both played today. (What did you make of the pitch and conditions here?) Well, I think it was a decent pitch, but I think initially we unnecessarily put pressure on us. But after that, when Smriti and I was batting, we tried to control the game and then we got what we wanted. (When does she want Richa to come out to bat?) If it's in my hand, I would love to send her on the first ball. But I think she has some role to play and she's doing really well and really happy the way she played today. (Started wobbly in the field but got better as the game progressed) Cricket is a game of, if you catch every ball, if you take all the catches, you always win matches. And I think that's what happened while fielding. We wanted to give ourselves to every ball and really happy with the way we fielded and overall game. (It could come down to NRR) Every league game is important and really happy how we win today because that is something, which is going to help us [at the] end of the league games. (I saw you hobbling around at the end. Are you fine?) Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you very much.

Fatima Sana | Pakistan captain: I think it's really disappointing (on the batting side). We need to step up in the next matches because we still have a long way to go in the World Cup. (On what went wrong in the field) I think we were good until the last 15 overs. After that, we gave away some extra runs. We also had a fielder come inside at one point, which cost us. We'll try to improve on those things in the next matches. (on why they had a slow overrate penalty) It might have been because of the left-right combination. But our team is young, and these players are gaining experience in these situations. They'll understand those moments better in the next matches. (On fielding) Obviously, catches win matches. Unfortunately, we dropped catches, especially as senior players. I think we need to improve both our bowling and fielding in the next match, as mistakes in the field can cost the whole match. (Could they have done anything differently?) We were trying to execute our plans and stick to what we had discussed. (On batting during PP) We were trying to be as positive as possible. Definitely. We won the powerplay in both batting and bowling, but after that we collapsed with the bat. We need to improve our batting so that we can get different results going forward.

Stats by Shashikant Singh

Biggest win margins for IND-W in Women’s T20 WC
82 runs vs SL-W, Dubai, 2024
79 runs vs BAN-W, Sylhet, 2014
72 runs vs BAN-W, Bengaluru, 2016
71 runs vs SL-W, Basseterre, 2010
64 runs vs PAK-W, Birmingham, 2026*

Best figures for IND-W on T20 WC debut
4/27 - Diana David vs NZ-W, Basseterre, 2010
3/26 - D Hemalatha vs NZ, Providence, 2018
3/21 - Shree Charani vs PAK, Birmingham, 2026*

Five-wicket hauls for IND-W in T20 WCs
5/10 - Deepti Shamra vs PAK, Birmingham, 2026*
5/15 - Renuka Thakur vs ENG, Gqeberha, 2023
5/16 - Priyanka Roy vs PAK, Taunton, 2009

Most wickets in Women’s T20Is
166 - Deepti Sharma (IND)*
165 - Thipatcha Putthawong (THA)
160 - Henriette Ishimwe (RWA)
152 - Megan Schutt (AUS)
148 - O Kamchomphu (THA)

Multiple 5-fers in Women’s T20I (FM teams)
3 - Anisa Mohammed (WI)
2 - Shabnim Ismail (SA)
2 - Arlene Kelly (IRE)
2 - Sune Luus (SA)
2 - Nahida Akter (BAN)
2 - Deepti Sharma (IND)*

Most spin wickets in a WT20 WC innings
9 - IND vs AUS, Providence, 2018
9 - PAK vs IRE, Cape Town, 2023
9 - IND vs PAK, Birmingham, 2026*

IND-W spinners today (by lengths)
Full: 1/6 (12 balls), ER: 3.0
Good: 6/44 (51 balls), ER: 5.17
Short: 2/18 (21 balls), ER: 5.14

Most wins against an opponent in WT20 WCs
8 - AUS vs SA (9 games)
7 - NZ vs SL (7 games)
7 - IND vs PAK (9 games)*
6 - ENG vs IND (6 games)

Deepti Sharma | Player of the Match - I am very grateful. I like these kind of wickets, all credit goes to the team and I am very grateful, Hanuman Ji is great. I like ICC tournaments I think, from there I started, so I like it. (What was the key to bowling on this surface today?) I think because it's turning, so I varied my pace in every ball and every over. That helped me a lot. Yeah, because it's turning, so I just have belief that I have to bowl a little bit slower in the air and just believing in myself and bowling in the right areas. That's what I was doing, yeah. (How important is your experience in England?) Yeah, it's amazing crowd here and a lot of people are coming and supporting the Indian team today. And that's what we want in every game, let's keep coming and keep supporting. And especially I wanted to mention about Smriti and Harry Di's partnership. From there, we threw the momentum. (You went a few games without wickets) Actually, I was not worried about when I didn't get wickets, but I always believe in myself that whenever the right time will come, I'll step up for the team and that's how I play and bowl.

"Today’s attendance - 18814 - this is highest ever in any group stage match in a Women’s T20 World Cup ever. Previous highest was 15935 (also India vs Pakistan, Dubai, 6 Oct 2024)" - pings Aayush Puthran from the ground.

17:59 Local Time, 16:59 GMT, 22:29 IST: India kickstart start their campaign with a convincing win. 170 looked like an above-par total at the halfway stage. But Pakistan got off to a brisk start and they were aided by the Indian fielders as well. Muneeba Ali was dropped twice off Shreyanka Patil's bowling and the left-handed opener scored close to 50% of the team's runs in the powerplay. Deepti provided the breakthrough in the 5th over but Harmanpreet Kaur had an intense chat with her team-mates at the end of the sixth over. There were too many fielding lapses but India stepped up after the powerplay. India strangled Pakistan with spin and the latter couldn't find a way to get out of it. Deepti bagged a fifer, Shree Charani impressed with three wickets and Shafali Verma chipped in with a wicket as well. Clearly, Deepti stole the show. Her career-best figures (4-0-10-5) say it all and don't forget her rocket throw to remove Pakistan's top-scorer. And, with 166 wickets, she is now the leading wicket-taker in T20Is.

Deepti Sharma to Nashra Sandhu, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Deepti Sharma to Tasmia Rubab, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Deepti Sharma to Aliya Riaz, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Deepti Sharma stops and has a look at the non-striker is she has left the crease. She was backing up a bit, but quickly came back in