With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 set to get underway in England, former India all-rounder and coach Abhishek Nayar has shared his preferred India playing XI for the highly anticipated tournament opener against Pakistan. The clash, scheduled for June 14 in Birmingham, is expected to draw significant attention, with India aiming to start their campaign on a winning note. Speaking on Star Sports’ show *Game Plan*, Nayar outlined a balanced combination that blends experience, power-hitting and bowling depth.
He backed the established opening pair of Shafali Verma and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana to provide India with an aggressive start in the Powerplay. Abhishek Nayar also placed his faith in Yastika Bhatia at No. 3, citing her recent performances and ability to stabilize the innings if early wickets fall. Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur were slotted in at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, forming the core of India’s middle order.
“The most obvious one is getting Shafali Verma right on top. You have got vice-captain Smriti Mandhana with her. Yastika Bhatia has actually been doing pretty well. She has been batting at No. 3. So Yastika there, Jemimah Rodrigues at No. 4, and Harmanpreet Kaur at No. 5,” Abhishek Nayar said.
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For the finishing role, Nayar selected wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh at No. 6, highlighting her ability to accelerate the scoring rate in the death overs. He then faced a selection dilemma between Bharti Fulmali and Radha Yadav but ultimately opted for the latter due to her all-round value.
“You have got power. Bharti Fulmali is a temptation, but with this team, I would want a finisher as well. The way Radha Yadav has been batting, I would go with a left-arm spinning option,” he explained.
Nayar completed his XI with Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Sree Charani and Kranti Gaud, giving India a well-rounded bowling attack capable of exploiting English conditions. The former India assistant coach also identified three players who could prove decisive for India’s World Cup campaign. Among the bowlers, Nayar singled out Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani as potential game-changers.
“The obvious one is Kranti Gaud for me because she is going to bowl with the new ball. You know the ball is going to do a bit when you play in England, and capitalizing on the Powerplay is really important in women’s cricket,” he said. Nayar also emphasized the importance of Sree Charani’s role in the bowling unit, calling her a crucial component of India’s attack.
On the batting front, Shafali Verma was his standout X-factor. According to Nayar, India’s success at the top largely depends on Shafali’s ability to attack early and allow Mandhana to settle into her innings.
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“When you look at Powerplay batting, you know that Shafali Verma needs to get going. The Indian team will be looking forward to making sure these three players enter with good form,” he added. As India prepare for a blockbuster opening clash against Pakistan, Nayar’s selections underline the importance of balancing experience with emerging talent in a tournament where every game could shape the road to the title.
Abhishek Nayar’s Predicted India XI vs Pakistan: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud.
