The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicked off on June 12 with England facing Sri Lanka. However, for fans in India and Pakistan, the main event starts on June 14 with the much-anticipated match between India and Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
While the rivalry in women’s Cricket isn’t as fierce as in the men’s game, India has a strong record, leading with 13 wins to Pakistan’s 3 in WT20Is. Yet, Pakistan has surprised India twice in Women’s T20 World Cup history, marking significant events for them. As both teams gear up for their upcoming match, let’s take a look back at those two memorable encounters.
2012 – Galle Thriller (Match 11, Group A, October 1)
In this match, Pakistan chose to bat first but found it difficult on a challenging pitch. Captain Sana Mir (26 off 38) and Nain Abidi (25 off 34) were the only ones to contribute significantly, leading their team to a total of 98/9 in 20 overs.
India’s bowlers, including Jhulan Goswami, Anuja Patil, and Rasanara Parwin, each took two wickets, setting up a seemingly easy chase. However, India faced pressure and struggled, with only Mithali Raj (16 off 29), Punam Raut (18 off 24), and Goswami (21 off 24) managing to score well.
Nida Dar stood out for Pakistan with her off-spin bowling, achieving figures of 3/12. Needing 14 runs in the final over, India could only manage 12, giving Pakistan a tight one-run victory. Dar was deservedly named Player of the Match.
2016 – Rain‑Affected Victory in Delhi (Match 7, Group B, March 19)
Four years later, Pakistan again triumphed, this time in Delhi. Opting to field first, they put in a disciplined bowling performance that made scoring difficult for India. Mithali Raj (16 off 35) and Harmanpreet Kaur (16 off 29) struggled to score quickly. Veda Krishnamurthy (24 off 19) and Goswami (14 off 14) added some late runs, but India could only manage 96 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan’s innings began steadily, helped by Nahida Khan (14 off 15) and Sidra Amin (26 off 26). However, Indian bowlers maintained pressure, and skipper Bismah Maroof’s lack of runs (5 off 18 balls) gave India a glimmer of hope. When rain halted play, Pakistan was at 77/6 in 16 overs.
As no further play was possible, Pakistan won by two runs under the DLS method, marking their second historic victory over India in the Women’s T20 World Cup.
These matches reflect key moments for Pakistan, highlighting that despite India’s overall strength, Pakistan can achieve surprising victories on significant occasions. As the teams prepare for their 2026 clash, Pakistan will aim to find inspiration in these previous wins.