India had a tremendous start to their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, with a commanding victory over Pakistan in Birmingham on Sunday. The side was flawless both in their batting and bowling departments. Smriti Mandhana remained highly effective, leading the charge with the bat, smashing an elegant half-century. India suffered early setbacks in the form of Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, but Mandhana displayed her incredible composure to maintain the flow of runs and take India to 170/6 in 20 overs.

There were valuable contributions from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh as India managed to put Pakistan under pressure. India's bowling unit also supported well, with Deepti Sharma emerging as the star performer following a sensational five-wicket haul that toppled Pakistan's batting line-up. 

Her efforts helped India seal a convincing 64-run victory for India. Despite India having an assured start, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin offered a more measured assessment of the team's chances in the tournament. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin praised India's all-round performance but pointed out an area he believes could become a concern as the competition moves forward. Ashwin felt that India may face difficulties against stronger teams due to a lack of power-hitters in their batting order.

"I am not sure India will go very far in this T20 World Cup because there is a lack of power in the lineup. While India were excellent against Pakistan and their spin attack once again proved decisive, the team still lacks the depth that sides like England and Australia possess. India's combination appears slightly short on power-hitting options, which could become a concern in tougher matches against stronger opponents. Compared to the strong lineups of England and Australia, India's overall team depth remains a significant worry," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat.

India will face Netherlands in their next match at the World Cup on June 17 in Leeds.