There is no fixture in world cricket quite like India vs. Pakistan. When the two sides meet on June 14 at Edgbaston to kickstart their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns, the atmosphere will be electric. While both camps harbor grand ambitions for the tournament, certain eyes are locked on the form and fury of Smriti Mandhana.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain, speaking on JioStar, had mentioned, he believes that despite a quiet patch of form, the big occasion will bring out the absolute best in India’s star opener. Both Mandhana and utility all-rounder Deepti Sharma have endured uncharacteristically silent periods of late. However, Hussain insists this is merely the calm before the storm rather than a cause for panic.
“They’re not surprise packages, but both Deepti and Smriti Mandhana have had quiet periods for a little while now. So, it’s not a surprise. But come Sunday, I think Smriti Mandhana will absolutely raise her level. If you ask Pakistan who they would be most worried about at the top of the order, it is Smriti Mandhana. She’ll go hard at Pakistan. She may need to rein it in a little,” Hussain observed.
The dynamic at the top of the order relies heavily on her partnership with the explosive Shafali Verma. It is a classic “fire and ice” combination that allows India to dictate terms early. Shafali Verma is tasked with flying out of the blocks, forcing the bowling side onto the defensive whereas Mandhana positions herself in the “slipstream,” absorbing the pressure before taking games away.
Hussain believes that if Shafali fires, it paves the way for a masterclass. “If she bats 20 overs, she will either have a hundred or be pretty close to one,” he added.
The significance of this opening fixture cannot be overstated. Placed in a challenging Group 1 alongside defending champions Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, and debutants Netherlands, neither side has any room for an early tournament misstep. For India, establishing momentum at Edgbaston is crucial for their semi-final ambitions, making Mandhana’s role at the anchor position even more vital.
The conditions in Birmingham are also expected to play a major factor. Early summer pitches in England often offer movement for the seamers, which means Mandhana’s elegant but defensive technique will be tested during the initial powerplay overs. If she manages to navigate the tricky early phase against Pakistan’s opening bowling spell, the surface will likely ease out, granting her the perfect opportunity to fulfill Hussain’s prediction of a massive, match-winning knocks.
India will certainly carry psychological superiority into Edgbaston. The last time these two rivals locked horns in a T20 World Cup was during the 2024 edition in Dubai, where India cruised to a commanding 6-wicket victory. Historically, India holds a dominant 13–3 head-to-head advantage over Pakistan in the shortest format. Armed with the confidence of their 50 over World Cup triumph last year, the Women in Blue look stronger than ever, even if recent away series defeats to South Africa and England have served as timely wake up calls.
Squads:
India Women’s Cricket Team
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav
Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team
Fatima Sana (C), Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Iram Javed, Eyman Fatima, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Parvaiz, Saira Jabeen, Muneeba Ali, Tuba Hassan, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu, Diana Baig, Tasmia Rubab
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