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India started their 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in style, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in their first match of the tournament. Former Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin congratulates the Indian women’s cricket team for the emphatic win over Pakistan, but he has some doubts over the team’s future in the title race.
According to Ashwin, chances to see India playing in the semi-final or final are very tight, as the team lacks depth. Ashwin mentions the previous T20 World Cup and the series against England. In both competitions, the Indian cricket team’s performance was not up to the mark.
They will not go very far: R Ashwin's prediction on the Indian Women's cricket team's future in the ongoing T20 World Cup
“The Indian women's team did not perform well in the Twenty20 World Cup. They will not go very far because they lack power. But they played excellent cricket today. Look, India has a problem with their combination. If you have seen the previous Twenty20 series between India and England, you will see the depth with which England played,” Ravichandran Ashwin told Vimal Kumal in the online interaction.
Ashwin further mentions that India got the win against Pakistan because of the Edgbaston pitch. The pitch was supportive for the spinners, and Harmanpreet Kaur did not make any delay putting her spinners into action.
“India doesn't have that much depth; they lack a bit of power. How did India win today? India started with the new ball with the spinner Shreyanka Patil,” he added.
Ashwin issues warnings for Team India in the T20 World Cup
R Ashwin highlights that India will have to face stronger opponents in the tournament. He warned about South Africa and Australia, who are among the powerful teams in the T20 World Cup.
“They have two tough games against South Africa at Old Trafford and the last game against Australia at Lord's. The side boundary at Lord's is very small, and Australia is probably the best team in the world compared to England, so I just have a feeling that India's combination is a little lacking,” he said.
Ashwin feels that the next two matches against South Africa and Australia will test the Indian women’s cricket team’s mettle. Ashwin raises concerns over the team’s batting firepower as well.
Concerns over batting as well
If Shafali Varma gets out early in the match, then it could be problematic for the Indian cricket team. In case Varma lost her wicket early in the innings, then the onus will be on Smriti Mandhana to rotate the strike rate, that too, maintaining a good pace.
“Because I want India to reach the final, but it will have to win two games, one against South Africa and one against Australia. I think the games will be tight because of India. What happened today is also the way Shefali will start the power play in the first power play is very important,” R Ashwin said.
“If Shefali Verma gets out, India does not have a fast player who can take on. Making a power play in the power play is not that easy. Smriti Mandhana will have to take the responsibility again,” he added.
🚨🚨 BREAKING :: R. ASHWIN SAYS THAT INDIAN WOMEN'S TEAM WON'T GO VERY FAR IN THIS T20 WORLD CUP 🚨🚨
— TheFakeFakeer (@TheFakeFakeer) June 14, 2026
- In the conversation with Vimal Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin has raised the key issue of the Lack of the Power hitters in Indian women's cricket team.
- He also highlighted that… pic.twitter.com/q3mhLQgMxB
