India Women will begin their highly anticipated ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan Women in Match 6 of the tournament at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham, on Sunday, June 14, starting at 07:00 PM IST (02:30 PM local time).
The historic rivalry once again takes centre stage in a global ICC event, with both sides aiming to gain early momentum in the group stage. India Women enter the contest after impressive preparations and carry a superior record against Pakistan in Women’s T20Is and World Cups.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India possess a balanced combination of experienced match-winners and aggressive young talents. Pakistan Women, meanwhile, arrive with renewed confidence after showing improved consistency in recent bilateral assignments.
Under the leadership of Fatima Sana, Pakistan will hope their disciplined bowling unit and experienced middle order can challenge the tournament favourites in a high-pressure encounter.
Match Details & Live Streaming
Venue: Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham
Date & Time: Sunday, June 14, 07:00 PM IST (02:30 PM local time)
Live Broadcasting & Streaming: Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar
IND-W vs PAK-W: Head-to-Head Record
Matches Played: 16
Won by India Women: 13
Won by Pakistan Women: 3
Pitch Report
The Edgbaston surface generally offers excellent batting conditions with true bounce and quick outfield speeds. Batters who settle early are expected to score freely, especially during the Powerplay overs.
Fast bowlers could receive slight movement with the new ball due to English conditions, while spinners are likely to become effective during the middle overs as the pitch slows slightly. The average first-innings score at the venue in women’s T20 matches is expected to remain around 155-165.
Weather forecasts indicate partly cloudy conditions, while dew during the second innings may influence captaincy decisions at the toss, making chasing a slightly preferred option.
Team Analysis
India Women:
India Women enter the tournament with a highly experienced batting lineup led by Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Young opener Shafali Verma’s aggressive approach gives India explosive starts, while Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh strengthen the middle order with their attacking strokeplay.
India’s bowling attack appears well-balanced with Deepti Sharma leading the spin department alongside Radha Yadav. Renuka Singh Thakur remains India’s primary pace threat with the new ball and her ability to strike early could become crucial against Pakistan’s top order.
Pakistan Women:
Pakistan Women will rely heavily on captain Fatima Sana and senior batter Muneeba Ali to provide stability against a strong Indian attack. Sidra Amin’s consistency at the top and Aliya Riaz’s experience in pressure situations will also be important for Pakistan’s batting structure.
The bowling unit remains Pakistan’s biggest strength, featuring experienced spinner Nida Dar and left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, both capable of controlling the middle overs effectively. Fast bowler Diana Baig’s discipline with the new ball could test India early under Birmingham’s conditions.
Match Prediction
India Women appear stronger on paper with greater batting depth, superior recent form and a dominant historical record in ICC tournaments against Pakistan. Their balanced bowling attack and experience in handling pressure games provide them with a noticeable advantage.
Pakistan Women possess the bowling quality to remain competitive, but they will require a near-perfect performance to contain India’s powerful batting lineup.
Prediction: India Women likely to win
IND-W vs PAK-W: Predicted Playing XI
India Women:
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shreyanka Patil.
Pakistan Women:
Muneeba Ali (WK), Sidra Amin, Gull Feroza, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana (C), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Tuba Hassan, Sadia Iqbal, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu.
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