India and Pakistan are set to commence their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 journey with a thrilling Group 1 faceoff at Edgbaston on Sunday. Known for their intense rivalry, matches between these two cricketing giants are always filled with unpredictability and passion, surpassing mere rankings and recent performances. The atmosphere at Edgbaston is expected to be charged, especially with Birmingham’s significant South Asian community, which has a history of turning India-Pakistan matches into memorable events.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will be aiming to clinch their first Women’s T20 World Cup title, carrying the weight of high expectations. With a mix of seasoned players and dynamic talents like Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma at the top order, India’s batting prowess is formidable. On the other side, Pakistan, under the captaincy of Fatima Sana, brings a young squad eager to make a strong impression. Despite India’s dominance in T20Is, Pakistan draws confidence from the tendency of major tournaments to produce surprising results.
The key battle in this clash could be Pakistan’s bowlers trying to contain India’s strong batting lineup. Spin experts Sadia Iqbal and Nida Dar will play crucial roles in curbing India’s ability to score quickly. India, equipped with a well-rounded bowling unit featuring Renuka Singh’s swing and Deepti Sharma’s reliability, is well-prepared for the English conditions. While India enters as the favorites, Pakistan is determined to create an upset and kick off their campaign with a victory.
When: Sunday, June 14, 7:00 PM IST
Where: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Where to watch: The IND vs PAK match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game.
Squads:
India: 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: 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
