Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with a brilliant half-century, supported by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, as India set a competitive total of 170/4 against Australia in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Opting to bat first, India started cautiously with Mandhana and Verma laying a solid foundation, gradually accelerating the scoring rate.
Mandhana showcased her form by taking on the Australian bowlers, while Shafali’s aggressive approach added impetus to India’s innings. Despite losing Shafali after a strong opening partnership, Mandhana continued to anchor the innings until a mix-up led to her run-out. Harmanpreet then joined Jemimah Rodrigues to stabilize the innings with sensible batting, ensuring India reached the 100-run mark in the 14th over.
Harmanpreet’s explosive batting display in the final overs, including three consecutive sixes to complete her fifty in just 25 balls, propelled India to a challenging total. With contributions from Mandhana and Shafali, India finished at 170/4, providing a formidable target for Australia in this crucial group stage match.
