India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, one of the country’s most successful women’s cricketers, once again drew attention off the field during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Ahead of India’s opening match against Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Sunday, Harmanpreet did not shake hands with Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana at the toss. The moment quickly became a talking point as it continued the no-handshake approach seen in recent India-Pakistan cricket contests. Despite the spotlight on the gesture, the Indian captain remained focused on the tournament and her team’s preparations for a crucial Group 1 encounter.
At the toss, the Indian captain after winning the toss and choosing to bat first said, “We will bat first. I think it’s a very good pitch to bat on, so we just thought let’s bat and set a decent total on the board. Well, I think we all are very excited. The last World Cup definitely has given us a lot of confidence, and we just want to carry that confidence to this World Cup. We have plugged a lot of areas and now it’s only about playing good cricket, and we are looking forward to that.”
The incident followed a similar pattern seen during the Women’s ODI World Cup meeting between the two sides in Colombo last year. After winning the toss, Harmanpreet immediately moved into the broadcaster interaction before walking away, while no customary handshake took place. The approach has been visible across several India-Pakistan matches since 2025 and has become a recurring feature whenever the two rivals meet on the cricket field.
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Indian captain keeps focus on cricket ahead of high-pressure encounter
Before the match, Harmanpreet made it clear that her mind was solely on cricket. When asked about the upcoming contest, she emphasized that the team was focused on the game and their preparations. She recognized that facing Pakistan always comes with its own set of pressures, but she insisted that the goal was to embrace the challenge and put forth their best performance.
This rivalry remains one of the most anticipated matchups in women’s cricket. India boasts a solid record against Pakistan in Women’s T20 Internationals, having won 13 out of their 16 encounters. In the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, India also holds a significant edge, leading the head-to-head 6-2. Notably, they have triumphed in four of the last five T20Is against their neighbors.
The team included Bharti Fulmali in their lineup and opted for a bowling strategy that featured three spinners and two medium pacers. On the other hand, Pakistan gave Saira Jabeen her World Cup debut. While discussions about handshakes took center stage before the match, both teams were laser-focused on clinching a crucial victory in this tournament opener.
