India all-rounder Deepti Sharma delivered a match-winning five-wicket haul to power India to victory in their Women's T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on 15 June, and she has now revealed the dressing-room conversations that fuelled one of the most dramatic bowling performances of her career.

The Mindset That Turned the Match

Pakistan made a promising start to their chase, putting India's bowlers under pressure during the Powerplay. Yet, according to Deepti, the mood inside the camp remained composed when the first drinks break arrived. The message from the leadership group was clear and deliberate.

'Even if you go for runs in one over, it doesn't matter because you'll get a chance to make a comeback in the next. Everyone stayed positive, and the same message was passed on to every bowler, to stay on their toes, focus on what they could do better in the next over, and forget what happened in the previous one,' Deepti said in an interview with JioStar.

That collective reset approach proved decisive. India's spinners gradually tightened the screws, triggering a collapse that swung the match firmly in their favour.

What the Five-Wicket Haul Means to Deepti

'It's difficult to pick one moment because everything I was able to do in this game was special, but I'll go with the five-wicket haul. It's very rare in an ICC tournament to pick up a fifer and end up winning the game for your team,' she said. The spell reinforced her standing as one of India's most reliable match-winners on the global stage.

Notably, Deepti stressed that facing Pakistan did not alter her mental framework. 'I approach every game with the same mindset,' she said, adding that her ability to handle pressure is built from the moment she begins her run-up.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Beyond her own contribution, Deepti spoke about the responsibility she feels toward India's younger spinners, including Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani, who featured in the tournament opener. Her advice was straightforward: trust your strengths and avoid overcomplication.

'My message to the youngsters, or whenever there are bowling meetings, I tell them to stick to what has been working for them. Read the conditions and, if you feel your best ball or your best plans can bring you success on that wicket, then back them and leave the rest to the Almighty. If you execute your plans with self-belief, success will eventually come,' she stated.

Fielding Improvement a Pre-World Cup Priority

The victory over Pakistan was also marked by a series of sharp fielding efforts — an area India had specifically targeted before the tournament. Deepti credited the team's pre-World Cup camp at the Centre of Excellence for the visible improvement.

'Before the T20 World Cup, we had a camp at the Centre of Excellence, where we worked extensively on our fielding and fitness with the coaches. We wanted to improve day by day in those areas, and I'm glad all that effort showed today,' she said.

Catches by Smriti Mandhana — diving forward — and Jemimah Rodrigues drew particular praise. 'They weren't the easiest catches... It's great to see the team putting in that kind of effort, and I'm feeling very positive about the team going ahead,' Deepti added.

Eyes on Netherlands at Headingley

India now turn their attention to their next group-stage fixture against the Netherlands at Headingley in Leeds on Wednesday. Deepti noted that a pre-tournament series in England had already given the squad familiarity with local conditions. 'We haven't played at Headingley yet, but we'll get a day or two to acclimatise when we practise there. We'll take the positives from this game into the next one,' she said.