Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the crucial Women's T20 World Cup 2026 clash being played at the Old Trafford on June 25. While Bangladesh didn't tinker with their fold, India made to changes to their playing XI. Radha Yadav and Renuka Thakur walked into India's fold in place of Prema Rawat and Arundhati Reddy.
What did the captains say at the toss?
After winning the toss, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana talked about the importance of setting a target in what she described as a massive opportunity for her team. Acknowledging that while the batting lineup has gone through a rough patch, Sultana backed her highly consistent bowling attack to deliver once again. Eager to make the moment count and leave everything on the field, Bangladesh elected to stick with an unchanged starting eleven.
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Radha, Renuka in, Prema-Arundhati out
On the other side, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remained unfazed by losing the toss, noting that the surface looked like an excellent wicket for batting. She emphasised the importance of patience, stating that batters could thrive as long as they stayed in the middle, read the pitch conditions carefully, and reacted intelligently. Kaur also announced two tactical changes to the Indian lineup, with Radha Yadav and Renuka Thakur returning to the side in place of Prema Rawat and Arundhati Reddy.
India Women (Playing XI):
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur, Nandni Sharma
Bangladesh Women (Playing XI):
Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Shanjida Akter Meghla, Marufa Akter
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India’s tough road to the knockouts
For India, a recent wake-up call at the hands of South Africa has severely complicated their path to the final four. Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad now faces a strict mathematical reality: they must win both of their remaining fixtures against Bangladesh and powerhouse Australia to guarantee a spot in the semi-finals. A single slip-up, combined with South Africa winning their upcoming matches, would see the tournament favorites suffer an early exit.
Bangladesh fighting for survival
Bangladesh find themselves in an equally precarious position following a comprehensive nine-wicket defeat against Australia. Despite that setback, their semi-final dreams remain mathematically alive, though their remaining schedule is incredibly daunting. Tasked with overcoming both India and South Africa, the Tigresses know that losing either of these upcoming matches will result in immediate elimination from the competition.