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India's campaign in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 came to an end after Australia produced another clinical performance, winning by six wickets in Belfast on Sunday to book their place in the semi-finals.
Chasing 171, Australia reached the target with an over to spare thanks to an outstanding partnership between experienced campaigner Ellyse Perry and all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner. Perry scored a calm 56 from 38 balls, while Gardner remained unbeaten on 53 off just 29 deliveries. Their fourth-wicket stand of 100 runs completely changed the game after Australia had lost three early wickets.
The six-time champions finished at the top of Group 1 with five wins from five matches and 10 points. South Africa also qualified for the semi-finals after beating Bangladesh earlier in the day. India ended their campaign in third place with six points.
Australia did not have the best start to the chase. Renuka Singh struck in the opening over by dismissing Georgia Voll, while India also removed Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney inside the first half of the innings. At 68 for 3, India looked to have a chance of pulling off a big win.
However, Perry and Gardner remained calm under pressure.Perry relied on timing and placement, regularly finding the gaps with elegant strokes, while Gardner attacked whenever the bowlers missed their lengths. The pair steadily shifted the momentum towards Australia and never allowed India to regain control.
Gardner cleared the ropes against Sree Charani and Shafali Verma, while Perry punished loose deliveries with a series of boundaries. Perry completed her half-century in 33 balls before being dismissed by Charani, but by then Australia were firmly in command. Gardner stayed till the end to guide her side home comfortably.
Earlier, India posted 170 for 4 after captain Harmanpreet Kaur played an explosive knock of 56 from only 27 balls. It was a fighting innings, but the total proved slightly below what was needed on a good batting surface.
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a steady start with a 66-run partnership. Both batters played some attractive shots, but the scoring rate remained under control for most of the innings as Australia kept things tight.
Shafali looked ready to accelerate but lost her wicket while trying to attack Sophie Molineux. Soon after, Mandhana was run out following a mix-up with Jemimah Rodrigues, putting India under pressure.
Rodrigues added 34 runs but found it difficult to score freely despite getting two chances in the field. She was eventually retired out before the final over to allow Richa Ghosh to come in for a late assault, although Ghosh faced only one delivery.
Harmanpreet was the standout batter for India. She attacked the Australian spinners confidently and brought up her fifty in just 26 balls. The skipper finished the innings in style by smashing three consecutive sixes in the final over, helping India collect 23 runs from the last six balls and push the total to 170.