Deepti Sharma Shines with Five Wickets in India's T20 World Cup Victory Over Pakistan

In a thrilling start to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Deepti Sharma's outstanding five-wicket performance led India to a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan. Alongside a stellar half-century from Smriti Mandhana and a late blitz from Richa Ghosh, India's bowling attack proved too strong for Pakistan. With a record crowd cheering them on, Deepti expressed her gratitude and confidence in her abilities, emphasizing her love for ICC tournaments. This match not only marked a successful beginning for India but also showcased the depth of talent in women's cricket. Read on to discover more about this exciting encounter and Deepti's remarkable achievements.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 15, 2026, 01:54 IST

India's Dominant Start in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup

Birmingham [UK], June 15: Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma made headlines with her remarkable five-wicket haul against Pakistan, leading her team to a 64-run victory in their opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The match showcased a stellar performance from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored a brilliant half-century, alongside an explosive innings from Richa Ghosh.

Deepti's impressive bowling figures of 5/10 in four overs were pivotal in securing the win. In the post-match presentation, she expressed her gratitude, stating, "I am very thankful. I enjoy playing on these types of pitches. The team deserves all the credit, and I owe my success to Hanuman Ji. I thrive in ICC tournaments. To bowl effectively today, I varied my pace and focused on my areas, which proved beneficial."

The match attracted a record crowd of 18,814, the largest ever for a women’s T20 World Cup group stage game. Deepti acknowledged the enthusiastic support from fans, emphasizing the importance of their presence. She highlighted the significant partnership between Smriti and Harmanpreet Kaur, which shifted the game's momentum.

Reflecting on her previous wicketless outings leading up to the tournament, Deepti remarked, "I never let the lack of wickets concern me. I trust that I will rise to the occasion when needed, and that’s how I approach my game."

Deepti was also recognized as the Player of the Tournament during the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025.

In the match, India chose to bat first but faced early setbacks, finding themselves at 18/2 after losing Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues. However, a crucial 91-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana (68 runs off 44 balls) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (36 runs off 35 balls) helped stabilize the innings. Richa Ghosh's late surge of 34 runs off just 17 balls propelled India to a total of 170/6 in their 20 overs.

For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana each took two wickets.

During Pakistan's chase, they began with a solid 38-run opening partnership but quickly faltered, collapsing to 91/7 and ultimately 106 all out in 17 overs. Muneeba Ali was the only Pakistani batter to make a significant contribution, scoring 41 runs. Deepti's exceptional bowling, along with Shree Charani's 3/21, dismantled the Pakistani lineup, earning Deepti the 'Player of the Match' accolade.