Women's T20 WC: Bangladesh short by 15-20 runs, says Nigar after India defeat
Synopsis
Bangladesh had the tools to challenge India but not the finishing touch. Nigar Sultana's honest admission — 15 to 20 runs short, chances dropped, death overs misread — tells the story of a side growing in confidence but not yet clinical enough. With Lord's still to come, this defeat may prove more instructive than damaging.
Key Takeaways
India beat Bangladesh by five wickets in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Old Trafford, Manchester , on 25 June .
Bangladesh posted 136/8 in 20 overs; India chased it down with 19 balls to spare.
Captain Nigar Sultana said Bangladesh were short by 15 to 20 runs and failed to convert chances in the field.
Shafali Verma scored an explosive 53 off 34 balls to anchor India's chase.
Radha Yadav took 3/28 ; Shree Charani became the first Indian woman to claim 12 wickets in a single Women's T20 World Cup edition.
Bangladesh conclude their campaign at Lord's Cricket Ground in their final group match.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana conceded her side left 15 to 20 runs on the field and squandered key chances in the field as Bangladesh fell to a five-wicket defeat against India in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Old Trafford, Manchester, on 25 June. Posting 136/8 in 20 overs, Bangladesh created pressure during India's chase but could not convert it into wickets, allowing India to coast home with 19 balls to spare.
Bangladesh's Batting Shortfall
The innings was anchored by opener Juairiya Ferdous, who struck 33, and a second-wicket stand of 51 runs with Sobhana Mostary, who contributed 22, after Dilara Akter fell early. Nigar herself injected momentum in the middle overs with an attacking 32 off 24 balls, including four boundaries. Despite the platform, Bangladesh could not accelerate through the death overs.
'We were short of 15 to 20 runs. And we had a good start in the power play, but we couldn't carry on in the middle and the last few overs of the innings. I think what we should accelerate at that time, so we couldn't capitalise ourselves,' Nigar said after the match.
Missed Chances in the Field
Bangladesh made India work during the chase, removing Yastika Bhatia, Richa Ghosh, and later Jemimah Rodrigues in the middle overs. However, several catching and bowling opportunities went begging before those breakthroughs. Shafali Verma had already inflicted the decisive damage, smashing 53 off 34 balls to set India firmly on course.
'See, we have created a lot of chances in the middle, especially in the bowling, so we couldn't grab them. So they take this game away from us. And I think the way we actually bowled in the last game, we couldn't bowl,' Nigar said.
India's Bowling Highlights
Radha Yadav led India's bowling attack with figures of 3/28, while Shree Charani claimed two wickets and etched her name in history, becoming the first Indian woman to take 12 wickets in a single Women's T20 World Cup edition — a milestone that underlined India's bowling depth in this tournament.
Bangladesh's Mindset and Road Ahead
Nigar revealed that the team's message during the tense middle overs was to stay composed and trust that an opportunity would arrive. 'We are talking about anything can happen anytime. So just be positive and try to bowl in the right areas, and try to be calm. If it is the opportunity to come, you have to grab it. So somehow I think we lost the momentum and they played really well,' she said.
Despite the result, Nigar took pride in the growth shown by her young squad on their first major tour of England. Bangladesh still have one fixture remaining — at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground — and the captain is determined to end the campaign on a high. 'I guess this is a good opportunity for us because being there is good for the team. We really wanted to create some good memories there, and we are looking for the last game,' she said. Bangladesh's final group match at Lord's represents not only a chance for a result but a landmark occasion for a programme on the rise.
Point of View
Not 136. Shree Charani's record-breaking 12-wicket haul for India, meanwhile, is the kind of milestone that rarely makes headlines but signals a genuine depth in Indian women's bowling that opponents are only beginning to reckon with.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of India vs Bangladesh in the Women's T20 World Cup at Old Trafford?
India beat Bangladesh by five wickets at Old Trafford, Manchester, on 25 June. Bangladesh posted 136/8 in 20 overs, and India reached the target with 19 balls to spare.
What did Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana say after the defeat?
Nigar Sultana said Bangladesh were short by 15 to 20 runs and failed to capitalise on chances created during India's chase. She pointed to a good power-play start that was not converted into a bigger total in the middle and death overs.
Who were the top performers for Bangladesh and India in this match?
For Bangladesh, Juairiya Ferdous scored 33 and Nigar Sultana contributed 32 off 24 balls. For India, Shafali Verma hit 53 off 34 balls, while Radha Yadav took 3/28 and Shree Charani claimed two wickets.
What record did Shree Charani set in this Women's T20 World Cup?
Shree Charani became the first Indian woman to take 12 wickets in a single edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, achieving the milestone during the match against Bangladesh at Old Trafford.
When and where does Bangladesh play their next Women's T20 World Cup match?
Bangladesh's final group match of the tournament is scheduled at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. Captain Nigar Sultana said the squad is eager to create good memories at one of cricket's most iconic venues.
