đź“… June 25, 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
India Women vs Bangladesh Women Preview
India Women face Bangladesh Women in a high-pressure Group Stage clash at Old Trafford, Manchester, with India potentially one defeat away from elimination from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
More than half the group stage is already complete, yet India are still searching for clarity around their best XI in English conditions. The middle order has seen constant reshuffling, the spin attack has been affected by Shreyanka Patil’s injury, and there remains uncertainty over the preferred pace combination.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, arrive with belief after winning two of their first three matches. Their victory over Pakistan has kept them firmly alive in the qualification race, making this clash a major test for both sides.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India Women vs Bangladesh Women |
| Tournament | Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Match Number | Match 23 |
| Date | Thursday, June 25, 2026 |
| Time | 2:30 PM Local Time / 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Old Trafford, Manchester |
| Match Stakes | India survival race; Bangladesh semifinal push |
Match Context
India’s Situation: India are under serious pressure after their defeat against South Africa. One more loss could severely damage or end their qualification hopes.
Bangladesh’s Position: Bangladesh have two wins from three games and are firmly part of the semifinal race. A win over India would put them in a very strong position.
Venue And Conditions
Old Trafford, Manchester
The match will be played on the same surface where India faced South Africa three days earlier. Conditions are expected to be fairly hot in Manchester, with temperatures rising further on match day.
The surface could be slightly slow, bringing spinners and cutters into the game. Batters who rotate strike well and avoid early dot-ball pressure may have a major advantage.
India Team News
Selection Questions Continue
India’s team combination remains unclear. Bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi recently described the changes as a “horses for courses” approach, while Shafali Verma gave a more direct explanation: players who perform will retain their places.
Radha Yadav has an excellent record against Bangladesh but has not yet got a chance in India’s XI this tournament. With Shafali proving useful as a sixth bowling option, India may consider bringing Radha back.
Jemimah Rodrigues had a long session against India’s pace bowlers and could be pushed back to No. 3 to stabilise the top order.
Bangladesh Team News
Winning Combination Likely To Continue
Bangladesh are expected to retain their winning combination on what could be a relatively slow Manchester pitch.
Their confidence has grown after the win against Pakistan, and they now see matches against India and South Africa as a direct path toward the semifinals.
Nigar Sultana’s side will look to use spin, discipline and middle-over pressure to test India’s unsettled batting order.
Probable Playing XIs
| Team | Probable XI |
|---|---|
| India Women | Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Yastika Bhatia/Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma |
| Bangladesh Women | Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Shanjida Akter, Marufa Akter |
India Playing XI Analysis
Opening Pair: Shafali And Mandhana Must Set The Tone
India need a strong start from Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. Bangladesh’s bowlers will try to deny width early, so India’s openers must avoid playing too many dot balls and ensure the powerplay does not become another pressure phase.
Middle Order: Jemimah At No. 3 Could Bring Stability
India’s middle order has been reshuffled repeatedly, creating uncertainty in roles. Jemimah Rodrigues moving back to No. 3 could help India control the innings better and reduce pressure on Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh.
Spin Factor: Radha Yadav and Sri Charani Could Be The Key
Sri Charani picked crucial wickets and is India’s top wicket taker in World Cup. Radha Yadav has enjoyed success against Bangladesh in the past and could be valuable on a slow Old Trafford pitch. With Shafali offering a sixth bowling option, India may have the flexibility to bring Radha into the XI.
Bangladesh Playing XI Analysis
Top Order Confidence
Bangladesh will rely on Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous and Sharmin Akhter to provide a steady start. If they protect early wickets, their middle order can put pressure on India’s unsettled bowling combinations.
Nigar Sultana’s Role
Captain Nigar Sultana will be central to Bangladesh’s batting structure. However, India may target her with Radha Yadav, who has dismissed her four times in five T20I innings.
Spin And Middle-Overs Pressure
Bangladesh’s best chance will be to slow India down through spin and disciplined field placements. On a used surface, dot-ball pressure could become as valuable as wickets.
Key Battles
Shafali Verma vs Bangladesh New Ball: Shafali’s powerplay intent can change the mood of India’s innings, but early wickets could expose India’s reshuffled middle order.
Radha Yadav vs Nigar Sultana: Radha has dismissed Nigar four times in five T20I innings, making this one of the most important tactical matchups.
Deepti Sharma’s Milestone Watch: Deepti is one wicket away from becoming the leading wicket-taker in women’s internationals, adding another major storyline to the match.
Harmanpreet Kaur Under Pressure: Harmanpreet needs 17 runs to become the first Indian batter to score 500 T20I runs against Bangladesh.
Did You Know?
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma | One wicket away from becoming the leading wicket-taker in women’s internationals |
| Radha Yadav vs Nigar Sultana | Radha has dismissed Nigar four times in five T20I innings |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Needs 17 runs to become the first Indian batter with 500 T20I runs against Bangladesh |
What They Said
Shafali Verma: “Whenever there is a bad day as a team, we know that the morale of the entire team will be down. But the next day, everyone knows that we need to come together and motivate each other.”
She added that India know it is a crucial game and will back each other while taking preparation day by day.
Sobhana Mostary: “The next two games are going to be very hard — against India and South Africa. We have won two matches, so if we win the next two games, we will go to the semifinal.”
Match Prediction
India have more experience and match-winners, but Bangladesh arrive with momentum and clarity. The slow surface could keep the game tight, especially if India’s batting reshuffle does not settle quickly.
Best Pick: India Women Win
Key Player: Smriti Mandhana
Bangladesh Danger Player: Nigar Sultana
Match Stakes: India survival race and Bangladesh semifinal push
