India needs a win against Bangladesh to stay alive in the Women’s World Cup 2026. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

They have been here before.

Back to the wall. Must-win game followed by must-win game. Again.

The Women in Blue showed they could do that in some style at the ODI World Cup at home just seven months ago. From the brink of elimination, they went all the way to be the greatest triumph in the history of Indian women’s cricket.

That was one great comeback.

It is time for another one. At the T20 World Cup.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s women will take the field against Bangladesh at Old Trafford here on Thursday knowing that they have to deliver. This is something they failed to do in their last match against South Africa despite promising with both bat and ball.

India had the Proteas struggling at 25 for two after the PowerPlay, and the dangerous captain Laura Wolvaardt was back in the dressing room. The bowlers hadn’t got enough runs to defend, but another wicket or two, and not dropping catches, could have put the South Africans under pressure.

ALSO READ: Scottish veteran Ian McLean, who played against Tendulkar, bats for women’s cricket

In the batting innings, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave their team another rousing start. The middle-order, however, didn’t rise to the occasion, yet again.

Of course, India had to deal with an inspired all-round performance by the gritty Marizanne Kapp, who guided her team to victory with what she later described as her best T20 innings. India needs such a spirited show from a player or two against Bangladesh.

This Indian team, of course, looks too strong for Bangladesh, and this match may not posses as much challenge as the one after (against Australia). But, given the situation they are in, the Indians have to be at their best, even though they apparently have not yet been able to identify their best eleven.

India needs more from Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues, neither of whom has really looked fluent enough.

Smriti, Shafali, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma have been scoring the bulk of India’s runs, and they need to take that form into the next matches. India will also be banking on Shree Charani, the newly-crowned No. 1 bowler in T20Is, to continue her marvellous work.

Bangladesh will have to be particularly wary of her. It goes into the match no doubt buoyed by its win against Pakistan, and it is not under as much pressure as its rival.

Published on Jun 24, 2026