`If she scores, the cup is definitely coming home…`: Krishnamurthy on Mandhana

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The stage is set for the Women`s T20 World Cup 2026, with the first match scheduled to be played between England and Sri Lanka. The fans will witness the clash on June 12 at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.

Ahead of the tournament, former cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy feels that Team India`s success will heavily rely on star batswoman Smriti Mandhana. She said that the left-handed batswoman is one among the players who have tasted success across the globe.

“When Smriti scores, India wins. So, she knows that it is very important for her to score in those big games. We`ve seen her do well in World Cups. She has done well in England and is one of those batters who scores runs all around the globe,” she said on JioHotstar.

The former cricketer is also hopeful of Mandhana delivering big knocks in the matches against South Africa and Australia.

“I hope she does well in all the games, but more importantly, in the big games, against South Africa, against Australia, and hopefully in the semi-final and the final. Because if she scores big in those games, the cup is definitely coming home,” said Krishnamurthy.

Team India will kick off the campaign by playing the first clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. The mega clash between fierce rivals will take place on June 14 at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.

The semi-final 1 of the mega event will be played on June 30 at The Oval in London, followed by the semi-final 2 on July 2 at the same venue.

The title clash of the Women`s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be played on July 5 at the Lord`s Cricket Ground in London.

Women`s T20 World Cup 2026, India vs Pakistan: Full squads

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Jemimah Rodrigues, Arundhati Reddy, Bharti Fulmali, Renuka Singh, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Richa Ghosh (WK), Shreyanka Patil, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani.

Pakistan: Diana Baig, Iram Javed, Aliya Riaz, Ayesh Zafar, Muneeba Ali (WK), Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Fatima Sana (C), Tube Hassan, Sadia Iqbal, Gull Feroza, Eyman Fatima, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab.

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