Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Team India to Begin Campaign with High-Voltage Clash Against Pakistan, Check Predicted Playing-11

Brief By Newsbrief / 5:11 PM on 14 Jun 2026

Fresh off clinical victory in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025, the Indian women's cricket team is now fully geared up to kickstart its campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026. Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian side will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan Women in their high-voltage opening fixture of the tournament. This blockbuster match is scheduled to be played on Sunday, June 14, at the historic Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. For this crucial encounter, the Indian team management is brainstorming to field a highly balanced and aggressive playing-11.

The primary responsibility of putting up a big score will lie on India's lethal top and middle-order. The explosive Shafali Verma and the experienced vice-captain Smriti Mandhana are set to open the innings. At number 3, left-handed batter Yastika Bhatia is likely to get the nod following her stellar form on the England tour and the warm-up games. In the middle-order, Jemimah Rodrigues will essay the anchor's role, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and big-hitting wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh will take charge of finishing the innings explosively.

India boasts a versatile lineup in the bowling and all-round departments. Star all-rounder Deepti Sharma will hold the key to India's balance, while Radha Yadav's superior all-round skills might give her an edge for the finishing spot. The pace attack will be spearheaded by Renuka Singh, known for swinging the new ball both ways, or death-overs specialist Arundhati Reddy. To chip in with crucial wickets during the middle overs, young Shree Charani and the accurate, high-pace seam bowler Kranti Gaur are expected to round off the final eleven to stifle the Pakistani batters.