The Indian cricket team returned to winning ways at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 after beating Bangladesh by five wickets at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Thursday.
Shafali Verma’s 53 off 34 balls helped India chase down the target after Radha Yadav led the way with the ball, finishing with figures of 3/28 to restrict Bangladesh to a total of 136/8 in the first innings.
The victory ensured India held onto the second spot in Group 1 with six points from four matches and a Net Run Rate of 2.268, staying on course for the semi-finals.
India will face record six-time champions Australia in their final Women’s T20 World Cup Group 1 match on Sunday – potentially a must-win game for Harmanpreet Kaur and Co.
Chasing 137 to win, India lost Smriti Mandhana in the third over but her opening partner Shafali Verma stayed true to her attacking instincts and took the Bangladesh bowlers on from the get-go.
Shafali brought up her fifty off 29 balls to put India in the driver’s seat before departing in the ninth over with her team still in a comfortable position at 76/2.
The rest of the Indian batters struggled for fluency with Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh departing in quick succession, leaving India on 98/4 in the 13th over as Bangladesh looked to claw their way back into the contest.
However, a 15-ball 26 by Jemimah Rodrigues and Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur scoring a steady 14, the Women in Blue crossed the finish line with no further hiccups.
Earlier, after electing to bat, Bangladesh struggled for fluency as India’s disciplined bowling attack kept the scoring rate in check and struck at regular intervals.
Indian pacer Renuka Singh, returning from injury and playing her first match of the tournament, struck with her very first over to dismiss Dilara Akter.
Juairiya Ferdous and Sobhana Mostary looked to steady the innings with Bangladesh’s highest partnership of the match, adding 51 runs for the second wicket to lay a platform for the middle order.
However, India wrested back control through Radha Yadav, who produced a decisive spell to remove both Sobhana Mostary and Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana.
The wickets triggered another collapse as Bangladesh struggled to build momentum, with regular breakthroughs preventing any sustained acceleration.
Bangladesh’s hopes of a late surge didn’t materialise with Sharmin Akhter retiring out in the 18th over as India capitalised with a disciplined effort at the death, conceding just 16 runs in the final two overs.
Shree Charani, meanwhile, broke the record for most wickets taken by an Indian in a single edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. She now has 12, surpassing Poonam Yadav’s 10 from the 2020 edition.
BAN-W vs IND-W, Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 brief scores: Bangladesh Women 136/8 in 20 overs (Juairiya Ferdous 33; Radha Yadav 3/28) lost to India Women 139/5 in 16.5 overs (Shafali Verma’s 53; Ritu Moni 2/29) by five wickets.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/women-t20-world-cup-2026-cricket-bangladesh-vs-india-vs-match-report
