📅 June 25, 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
| Match | India Women vs Bangladesh Women |
| Competition | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Group A |
| Venue | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester |
| Toss | Bangladesh Women won the toss and chose to bat |
| Result | India Women beat Bangladesh Women by 5 wickets |
| Player of the Match | ⭐ Shafali Verma |
| Impact | India kept their semifinal hopes alive with 19 balls to spare. |
Shafali Verma Powers India To Vital Win In Manchester
India Women kept their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign alive with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh Women at Emirates Old Trafford.
Bangladesh fought hard and created chances, but India’s batting firepower, led by Shafali Verma’s attacking half-century, proved enough to seal the chase in the 17th over.
- India defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets with 19 balls remaining.
- Shafali Verma scored a match-winning 53 off 34 balls.
- Jemimah Rodrigues played a useful late cameo of 26 off 15 balls.
- Radha Yadav took 3 wickets and helped restrict Bangladesh.
- India’s fielding remained a major concern after several dropped catches.
- Bangladesh were competitive but fell short by around 15-20 runs.
- India now need to beat Australia and hope other results go their way.
India Do The Job, But Not Without Nervy Moments
India came into this match knowing that only a win would keep their semifinal hopes alive. On paper, a five-wicket victory with 19 deliveries remaining looks comfortable, but the match was not as clean as India would have liked.
Bangladesh batted first and reached 136/8 in 20 overs. Their innings had useful contributions from Juairiya Ferdous and captain Nigar Sultana, but they struggled to accelerate in the final overs. India’s spinners pulled the game back well, especially Radha Yadav and Shree Charani.
India’s chase started strongly because of Shafali Verma. She attacked early, punished loose bowling and took India to their highest Powerplay score in a Women’s T20 World Cup match. However, after Shafali’s dismissal, Bangladesh briefly dragged the game deeper before Jemimah Rodrigues released the pressure with a quick cameo.
📊 Match Stats In Brief
Bangladesh innings: Bangladesh scored 136/8 in 20 overs at a run rate of 6.80. Juairiya Ferdous made 33 off 31 balls, while Nigar Sultana added 32 off 27 balls.
India chase: India reached the target in 16.5 overs, finishing on 139/5. Shafali Verma led the chase with 53 off 34 balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues scored a quick 26 off 15 balls.
Bowling impact: Radha Yadav was India’s best bowler with 3 wickets for 28 runs. Shree Charani supported well with 2 wickets for 21 runs, while Renuka Singh Thakur and Nandni Sharma picked up one wicket each.
Powerplay difference: Bangladesh made 40 runs in their Powerplay, while India raced to 63/1 in the first six overs. That early burst gave India control of the chase.
Key record: Shafali Verma completed 500 runs in Women’s T20 World Cup cricket and owns the highest strike rate among batters with 500-plus tournament runs.
Bangladesh Innings: Good Start, Poor Finish
Bangladesh began with intent after winning the toss and choosing to bat. India opened with Shafali Verma’s off-spin before Renuka Singh Thakur struck early to remove Dilara Akter.
Juairiya Ferdous became the central figure of Bangladesh’s innings. She was given multiple lives by India’s poor catching and used those chances to keep the scoreboard moving. Sobhana Mostary supported her, but the scoring rate never truly exploded.
Nigar Sultana then gave Bangladesh some momentum with a brisk 32, including three boundaries in one Nandni Sharma over. But once Radha Yadav removed Nigar, Bangladesh lost their direction at the death.
India’s bowlers tightened up in the final phase. Radha Yadav removed key batters, while Shree Charani closed the innings with two wickets in the final over. Bangladesh ended on 136/8, a total their captain later admitted was 15 to 20 runs short.
India Chase: Shafali Sets The Tone
India’s chase was built around Shafali Verma’s aggression. She was dropped early by Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana, and that miss proved costly.
Shafali immediately took charge, striking boundaries down the ground and through the off-side. Smriti Mandhana fell cheaply, but Yastika Bhatia gave Shafali good support as India raced to 63/1 in the Powerplay.
Shafali reached her fifty from just 29 balls, but her innings ended in unusual fashion when she was stumped after stepping out of her crease. Yastika and Richa Ghosh also fell soon after, giving Bangladesh a small opening.
There was more drama when Jemimah Rodrigues survived a run-out mix-up with Harmanpreet Kaur. But Jemimah recovered quickly, hitting important boundaries and a six to ease the pressure. Her 26 off 15 balls pushed India close enough for Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma to finish the chase.
🧠 Match Analysis: How The Game Was Won
India won the match in the Powerplay chase. Bangladesh’s 136 was competitive only if they took early wickets. Instead, Shafali’s hitting gave India a fast start and reduced the pressure on the middle order.
Bangladesh stayed alive because of India’s fielding mistakes. India dropped several catches, including chances offered by Juairiya Ferdous. Against stronger teams, those errors could become match-losing moments.
Radha Yadav changed the rhythm with the ball. Her spell stopped Bangladesh from accelerating through the middle and death overs. The wicket of Nigar Sultana was especially important because Bangladesh’s captain was beginning to attack.
India’s chase became slightly messy after Shafali’s wicket. Richa Ghosh was promoted to improve net run rate, but the move did not fully work. Yastika’s wicket and a run-out scare involving Jemimah and Harmanpreet briefly gave Bangladesh hope.
Jemimah Rodrigues finished the pressure phase. Her quick boundaries after the drinks break ensured Bangladesh could not drag the game into the final overs. That burst made the chase comfortable again.
⭐ Top Performers
⭐ Shafali Verma: Player of the Match for her 53 off 34 balls. Her early assault shaped the chase.
⭐ Radha Yadav: Took 3/28 and removed key Bangladesh batters during important phases.
⭐ Shree Charani: Picked up 2/21 and finished the Bangladesh innings strongly.
⭐ Jemimah Rodrigues: Scored 26 off 15 balls and eased India’s pressure late in the chase.
⭐ Nigar Sultana: Bangladesh’s captain made 32 and kept her side competitive.
🗣️ What They Said
Harmanpreet Kaur: The India captain called it a good win but admitted that fielding remains a concern. She said India need to bring their best cricket in the next game against Australia.
Shafali Verma: Shafali said she was happy with her batting but disappointed not to finish the chase. She also spoke about contributing with the ball whenever the team needs her.
Nigar Sultana: Bangladesh’s captain felt her team were 15 to 20 runs short and said they created chances but failed to grab them.
🏆 Qualification Scenario
India’s win keeps them alive in the semifinal race, but their fate is no longer fully in their own hands.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s side now need to beat Australia in their next match. They will also hope South Africa slip up in one of their remaining games, starting with the clash against Netherlands.
Bangladesh remain mathematically alive, but their chances are very slim after this defeat. Their final game at Lord’s will still be important for pride and tournament momentum.
India did what they had to do. Shafali Verma’s fearless batting gave them the platform, and Jemimah Rodrigues ensured the chase did not become complicated at the end.
But this was not a perfect performance. India’s catching was poor, and the middle phase of the chase became messy. Against Australia, India will need sharper fielding, clearer running between the wickets and a more complete display.
Player of the Match: Shafali Verma ⭐
Key Moment: Shafali Verma’s 29-ball fifty
India Status: Semifinal hopes alive
Pulse India News Rating: 8/10
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