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'Good Headache To Have': Mandhana Hails Rising Competition As India Women’s Squad Shines In Warm-Up Win Over West Indies Ahead Of T20 World Cup
24htopnews | June 9, 2026 8:08 PM CST

India’s Women’s T20 World Cup preparations gained momentum as they defeated West Indies by 26 runs in a warm-up match in Cardiff. India women's national cricket team saw strong performances from Bharti Fulmali, Radha Yadav, and Shreyanka Patil, while Smriti Mandhana led in Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence. The match highlighted rising squad competition and depth.

Cardiff: India's preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup were reinforced when several squad members capitalised on their chances in a strong warm-up win against the West Indies and stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana expressed satisfaction with the increasing competition within the team while also stating that the fringe players finding their mojo was a positive sign.

With regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur absent from the fixture, Mandhana led the team and played a key role at the top of the order, striking a brisk 39 from 23 deliveries as India posted a challenging total before securing a 26-run win in Cardiff.

However, it was the performances of players fighting for spots in the playing XI that drew the most attention. Middle-order batter Bharti Fulmali produced an unbeaten 56 off 40 balls, while bowlers Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav combined to claim seven wickets and derail the West Indies’ chase.

Mandhana said the contributions from players who have had limited opportunities in recent months could only strengthen India's World Cup campaign.


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