Birmingham, June 14: India has won the toss and opted to bat first in a high-stakes match against Pakistan at Edgbaston during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Indian team aims to kick off their campaign with a victory.
After winning the toss, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur stated, “We will bat first. This pitch looks great for batting, and we aim to set a solid score on the board. Everyone is very excited; we gained confidence from the last World Cup. The key is to play good cricket, and we are ready for that. Bharti Fulmali is playing today. We are going in with three spinners and two medium pacers.”
On the other hand, Pakistani captain Fatima Sana expressed, “If we had won the toss, we would have batted first as well. This pitch seems good for batting. As a team, we are performing well in both batting and bowling, which is a positive sign. While the pitch looks favorable for batting, our bowling is also strong.”
In T20 format, India and Pakistan have faced each other 16 times, with the ‘Women in Blue’ having the upper hand. India has won 13 matches, while Pakistan has secured only 3 victories.
The Indian team boasts a blend of experience and aggressive play, especially in the top order, where Smriti Mandhana and Shefali Verma can dictate the match’s pace from the start. India also has a balanced bowling attack. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s young team will look to make their mark on the field.
India’s Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shefali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, and Shreyanka Patil.
Pakistan’s Playing XI: Gul Firoza, Muniba Ali (Wicketkeeper), Ayesha Jafar, Saira Jabeen, Alia Riaz, Natalia Parvez, Fatima Sana (Captain), Rameen Shamim, Nashra Sandhu, Tasmia Rubab, and Sadia Iqbal.
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