Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana won the toss and elected to bat first against India in a crucial Group A match of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Old Trafford on Thursday.
With both teams chasing a place in the semi-finals, the contest carries significant importance, particularly for India, who are looking to bounce back from their defeat to South Africa and keep their qualification hopes firmly in their own hands.
Explaining the decision to bat first, Nigar said Bangladesh wanted the opportunity to put runs on the board in a high-pressure encounter.
“We chose to bat first because we want to set a target on the board. This game carries huge importance for us, and we’re ready to give everything we have. Our batting unit has been through a rough patch, but I believe they’ll bounce back. The bowlers have been consistent and performing well, so we’ll stick with the same lineup,” she said.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted she would have been happy batting first as well, describing the Old Trafford surface as one that should offer something for both batters and bowlers.
“I think this is a good surface to bat on, and once you spend some time out there it becomes even better. At the same time, there’s something in it for the bowlers too, so it’s a fair pitch for both bat and ball. Our focus is simple, adapt to the conditions, secure the win first, and then see how things unfold,” said Harmanpreet.
India entered the tournament with convincing victories over Pakistan and the Netherlands before suffering a six-wicket defeat to South Africa. With a final group-stage clash against Australia still to come, the Women in Blue need another win to stay in contention for a semi-final berth.
A comprehensive victory could also prove valuable, with net run rate potentially playing a decisive role if India, South Africa and Australia finish level on points.
Playing XIs
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Nandini Sharma, Renuka Singh.
Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana (c/wk), Juairiya Ferdous, Dilara Akter, Sharmin Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Sanjida Akter Meghla.