Smriti Mandhana's Brilliant 68 Rescues India Against Pakistan in Women's T20 World Cup 2026
India's campaign at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 got off to a shaky start against arch-rivals Pakistan. The Women in Blue found themselves in deep trouble at 18/2 after just 3.2 overs, losing both Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues early. The high-pressure encounter carried extra significance due to the tensions between the two sides, making the contest even more intense.
With India under pressure, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana rose to the occasion. She looked positive from the outset, striking two boundaries off Sadia Iqbal in the third over. Despite wickets falling around her, Mandhana continued to play attacking cricket and ensured Pakistan could not completely dominate the innings. However, India's cautious approach meant they managed only 38 runs in the powerplay.
While captain Harmanpreet Kaur took time to settle at the other end, Mandhana assumed the role of aggressor. She survived a major scare when Aliya Riaz dropped her on 28, and the left-hander made Pakistan pay immediately. By the halfway stage of the innings, Mandhana had raced to 36 runs from 27 balls and looked set for a big score.
The stylish opener brought up her half-century in just 38 deliveries, taking on Rameen Shamim with confidence. The knock was particularly significant because it was her fifth 50-plus score in Women's T20 World Cup history. With that effort, she joined Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur at the top of India's all-time list for most 50-plus scores in the tournament, with all three players now having five such scores.
Pakistan Pay the Price for Missed Mandhana Chance
Pakistan's fielding woes continued when Saira Jabeen dropped Mandhana on 55, and the chance proved costly. Mandhana capitalized on the second reprieve and continued to anchor the innings. She eventually scored a crucial 68 off 44 balls, while Harmanpreet contributed 36 from 35 deliveries. Their partnership stabilized the innings at a time when India appeared vulnerable.
Mandhana's innings was also important from a historical perspective. She moved to second place among the highest run-scorers in India-Pakistan Women's T20Is, taking her tally to 307 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 111.23. Only Mithali Raj, with 315 runs in 10 innings, stands ahead of her. Mandhana also has two half-centuries against Pakistan, matching Mithali and Bismah Maroof in that category.
The foundation laid by Mandhana allowed India's finishers to attack freely in the death overs. Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh produced a late assault, adding 38 runs in the final two overs to push India beyond the 160-run mark. While the late cameo provided the finishing touch, it was Mandhana's composed and aggressive 68 that rescued India from a difficult situation and set up a competitive total against their biggest rivals.
Highest Score for India in T20 World Cup vs Pakistan
| Team | Batter | Score |
|---|---|---|
| India Men | Virat Kohli | 82* |
| India Women | Smriti Mandhana | 68 |
Highest Individual Scores for India Women in T20 World Cup
| Score | Batter | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | Harmanpreet Kaur | New Zealand | 2018 |
| 87 | Smriti Mandhana | Ireland | 2023 |
| 83 | Smriti Mandhana | Australia | 2018 |
| 77 | Harmanpreet Kaur | Bangladesh | 2014 |
| 68 | Smriti Mandhana | Pakistan | 2026* |
Most 50+ Scores for India Women in T20 World Cups
| Player | 50+ Scores |
|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 5* |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 5 |
| Mithali Raj | 5 |
| Punam Raut | 3 |