India opened their Women's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Sunday, 14 June, with Smriti Mandhana's 68 and Deepti Sharma's career-best 5 for 10 doing the heavy lifting. The win hands India two points and a net run rate of +3.20 — a significant early cushion in the group stage.

India's Innings: Smriti Sets the Platform

India posted 170 for 6 in their allotted overs, with Smriti Mandhana top-scoring with a fluent 68. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur joined Mandhana in the middle to steady the innings after an unnecessarily pressured start, and together they wrested control of the game. The late fireworks came from Richa Ghosh, whose blistering 34 off just 17 balls pushed India to a competitive total.

Deepti and Charani Dismantle Pakistan

Deepti Sharma was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 5 for 10 — a spell that effectively ended the contest. N Sree Charani supported with 3 for 21 as Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs, falling 64 runs short of India's target. It was a disciplined, clinical bowling display that gave India's fielding unit little room for error.

What Harmanpreet Said

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Harmanpreet Kaur was effusive in her praise for the match-winners. 'Whenever we need, they're always there to push the team. So, really happy the way they both played today,' she said, referring to Mandhana and Deepti.

On the pitch conditions at Edgbaston, Harmanpreet acknowledged a slow start: 'I think it was a decent pitch, but I think initially we unnecessarily put pressure on us. But after that, when Smriti and I were batting, we tried to control the game and then we got what we wanted.'

Asked about Ghosh's explosive cameo, Harmanpreet joked: 'If it's in my hand, I would love to send her to bat on the first ball. But I think she has some role to play lower down the order and she's doing really well.'

Fielding and Fitness

Harmanpreet was broadly satisfied with India's fielding effort despite a few missteps. 'Cricket is a game of, if you catch every ball, if you take all the catches, you always win matches. And I think that's what happened while fielding,' she said. The captain also moved to quell fitness concerns after hobbling late in the game: 'I'm fine. Thank you very much.' She took a moment to thank Indian fans at the ground for their vocal support throughout.

Eye on Net Run Rate

Harmanpreet stressed the broader significance of the margin of victory. 'Every league game is important and I'm really happy we won today because that is something which is going to help us at the end of the league games,' she said. With a net run rate of +3.20, India have given themselves a strong buffer heading into the remainder of the group stage. This is the kind of statement win — against a fierce rival, in a high-profile opener — that can set the tone for an entire tournament campaign.