Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Fulmali, Shreyanka star in India’s warm-up win over WI

Bharti Fulmali

Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav starred as India crushed the West Indies by 26 runs in their first warm-up match of the Women's T20 World Cup here on Monday. Fulmali made a fine unbeaten 56 to power India to 179 for eight after batting first. In reply, the West Indies could only manage 153 for eight with Deandra Dottin making 49.

Dottin struck eight fours in her 44-ball knock but the rest of the Caribbean batters could not capitalise on the strong start provided by Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle (25). The West Indies collapsed from 81 for two in the 11th over to 153 for eight towards the end as Indian bowlers dominated the final half of the second innings to impose a commanding victory. India tried only six bowling options in their first warm-up match which had Shreyanka claiming 4-0-36-4 and Radha returning 4-0-25-3 to claim the majority of the wickets.

India will take on the hosts England, against whom they had recently lost the bilateral T20I series 1-2, in their final warm-up match here before taking on Pakistan in their T20 World Cup opener on June 14 in Birmingham. Earlier in the India innings, Fulmali struck 56 not out off 40 balls but the other batters around her could not provide any support. As many as six Indian batters recorded single-digit scores which included a first-ball duck for Richa Ghosh and a run-a-ball seven for No. 3 batter Jemimah Rodrigues.

India were off to a strong start with their openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma hitting the strides well, putting on 59 runs for the first wicket inside the powerplay. Shafali cracked five fours to make 29 off 13 balls while Mandhana was also fluent, hitting eight fours to score 39 off 23 balls to indicate her form ahead of the T20 World Cup. But there was some concern for India when Yastika Bhatia retired out for 36, having hit six fours while facing 26 balls at No. 4. Afy Fletcher was the pick of the West Indies bowlers as she returned 4-0-23-4.

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