India's predicted playing XI vs Pakistan — Women's T20 WC 2026

India will open their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Pakistan on June 14. The contest takes place at Edgbaston in Birmingham. It’s always known to be one of the eye-catching games, even after the blue brigade’s strong head-to-head of 13-3 over the Pakistan side in the shortest format.

India, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, heads into the World Cup with two back-to-back series defeats. They lost to England in the three-match T20I series by a 2-1 margin, while they also faced a 4-1 series defeat against South Africa in April this year. 

Mandhana & Shafali vs Pakistan — Can India's Openers Set Up a Fast Start at Edgbaston?

Going into the T20 World Cup 2026 opener against Pakistan, India doesn’t have much headache around their batting department with a settled line-up at the start, which has been the biggest strength of the team-

Top order- Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues

Since the beginning of 2025, the two aggressive openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, have been the secret to success for the Indian side. Verma is their leading run-getter in this period with 677 runs in 21 innings at an average of 35.63 and a blistering strike rate of 159.29, thanks to six half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 79 runs.

See Also: India beat Pakistan by 6 wkts — Last clash before Women's T20 World Cup 2026

Mandhana has, meanwhile, clubbed 572 runs in just 18 innings at an average of 33.64 and a decent strike rate of 133.64, with the help of three fifties and one century at the best score of 112.

Jemimah Rodrigues, who has shaped herself as the new rescue player of the Indian women's side in the last few years, is expected to bat at number three, having drilled 465 runs in 19 innings at an average of 29.06 and a strike rate of 135.96 with four fifties.

Middle and lower order- Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy

The captain of the Indian side, Harmanpreet Kaur, is equally important for the blue brigade to be their third leading run-getter in the last 18 months. The veteran right-handed batter has collected 486 runs in 18 innings at an average of 40.50 and a strike rate of 127.55, with the help of three half-centuries at the best score of 68 runs. 

Richa Ghosh’s recent form has dropped a little. But the wicket-keeper batter has been fabulous in providing them with the firepower in the lower order, having smacked 268 runs in 18 innings at a strike rate of 151.41.

See Also: India Women's T20 World Cup 2026 schedule — Every match date, venue and time you need to know

Deepti Sharma has done well whenever required, with 124 runs in this period. The off-spinner has bagged 23 wickets in 20 innings to be their second-highest wicket-taker of the phase at a slightly expensive economy rate of 8.05.

Arundhati Reddy can add a few runs in the lower order if required. She is third on the list of most wickets for India in the shortest format since the start of 2025.

Renuka, Deepti & Shree Charani — Which India Bowler Is the X-Factor vs Pakistan?

India always have a strong bowling attack. And it will remain the same during the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash over the Fatima Sana-led side.

Bowlers- Shreyanka Patil, Nandni Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, N Shree Charani

Shree Charani has been superb with her left-arm spin in the shortest format of the game for India, being their leading wicket-taker since the beginning of 2025. She has pocketed 28 wickets in 20 innings at an average of 20.17 and a strike rate of 15.80 and a decent economy rate of 7.65, with the best bowling figures of 4/12 in an innings.

Renuka Singh has been a little concerned for the blue brigade, due to the number of injuries it has faced in the last few years. Despite that, she has 10 wickets in nine innings at an economy rate of nearly eight in the last 18 months.

Shreyanka Patil, who picked up four wickets during their first warm-up clash against West Indies in Cardiff, is expected to be part of the playing XI for the opener against Pakistan, having taken nine wickets in six innings. She will be partnered with Nandini Sharma on the side.

One spot up for grabs — Who misses out in India's final XI?

Kranti Gaud could challenge Nandini in the selection of the playing eleven. She has done well with eight wickets in 11 innings, but has an expensive economy rate of more than eight in the WT20Is since 2025.

See Also: Most Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup History — All-Time Top Bowlers List Updated 2026

Meanwhile, Yastika Bhatia and Bharti Fulmali will be on the bench but could come into the eleven if there is a requirement for the injury replacement for India’s middle order. Radha Yadav is also anticipated to warm the benches at the start.

India’s probable playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026 clash vs Pakistan-  

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Nandni Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, N Shree Charani.