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India got off to a great start to their 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in their first match of the tournament. Former Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin congratulated the Indian women’s cricket team for their emphatic win over Pakistan, but has some doubts about the team’s future in the title race.
According to Ashwin, India’s chances of playing in the semi-finals or final are very slim because the team lacks depth. Ashwin mentioned the last T20 World Cup and the series against England. The performance of the Indian cricket team was not good in both the competitions.
They won’t go very far: R Ashwin’s prediction on the future of the Indian women’s cricket team in the ongoing T20 World Cup
Ravichandran Ashwin told Vimal Kumal in an online chat, “The Indian women’s team did not perform well in the Twenty20 World Cup. They could not go far because they lacked strength. But they played excellent cricket today. Look, India have a problem with their combinations. If you have watched the last Twenty20 series between India and England, you will see how much depth England played.”
Ashwin further said that it was because of the Edgbaston pitch that India won against Pakistan. The pitch was conducive to spinners and Harmanpreet Kaur made no delay in getting her spinners into action.
“India don’t have that much depth; they lack a bit of strength. How did India win today? India started with the new ball with spinner Shreyanka Patil,” he said.
Ashwin has issued a warning for Team India in the T20 World Cup.
R Ashwin highlighted that India will face strong opponents in the tournament. He warned about South Africa and Australia, who are among the powerful teams of the T20 World Cup.
He said, “They have to play two tough matches against South Africa at Old Trafford and the last game against Australia at Lord’s. The side boundaries at Lord’s are very small and Australia is probably the best team in the world compared to England, so I just feel that India’s combination is a bit lacking.”
Ashwin feels that the next two matches against South Africa and Australia will test the mettle of the Indian women’s cricket team. Ashwin also expressed concern over the team’s batting ability.
Concern about batting also
If Shafali Verma is out early in the match then there could be trouble for the Indian cricket team. If Verma loses her wicket early in the innings, the onus will be on Smriti Mandhana to rotate the strike rate, that too while maintaining a good pace.
“Because I want India to reach the final, but they have to win two games, one against South Africa and one against Australia. I think the matches will be tough because of India. What happened today is also how Shafali will start the power play in the first power play, it is very important,” said R Ashwin.
He said, “If Shafali Verma gets out, India does not have any fast player who can compete. It is not so easy to make a power play in the power play. Smriti Mandhana will have to take the responsibility again.”
BREAKING :: R. Ashwin says Indian women’s team will not go far in this T20 World Cup
-In conversation with Vimal Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin has raised the important issue of lack of power hitters in the Indian women’s cricket team.
– He also highlighted that… pic.twitter.com/q3mhLQgMxB
– The FakeFaker (@TheFakeFakeer) June 14, 2026
