India's Women's T20 World Cup campaign began with a controversial and disappointing 58-run loss to New Zealand. The match was marred by a contentious decision when New Zealand's Amelia Kerr was called back after being run out, as the umpires ruled the ball dead, leading to heated exchanges between Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the officials. Despite India's protests, Kerr continued her innings but was soon dismissed by Renuka Singh. The White Ferns set a formidable target of 161/4, led by Sophie Devine's unbeaten 57, while India's batting collapse resulted in a total of 102 runs. Fans and experts expressed frustration over both the team's performance and the umpiring decision, which some argued favored New Zealand. India's fielding errors and inability to adapt to the pitch conditions compounded their defeat, highlighting areas in need of improvement for future matches.