Women's World Cup 2026: 'There will be pressure, we have set a standard' - Harmanpreet Kaur on India's preparation

India kick off their 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, June 14, at Edgbaston. Speaking ahead of the start of their campaign, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stated that it is crucial to identify the team's best combination ahead of a major tournament.

Representing the country in record tenth T20 World Cup appearance, the skipper emphasised the middle overs being the most important phase of play in the T20 format, making it vital to identify players who can handle situations in that period of the game. She added that there will be pressure on the team coming into the tournament as the winners of the last ICC tournament, the 2025 ODI World Cup.

For me, as a team the most important thing is to play as many matches as possible, give equal opportunities to all the players, and then finalise your best playing XI. That is very important. In terms of tactics, there is a lot of attention on the Powerplay and the last few overs, but I feel it is the middle overs that control the entire game. So, how you fare in that phase is critical. That's why you need to identify your best players, those who can handle pressure in that period, and prepare accordingly. There will be pressure on us because we have now set a standard for ourselves after winning the World Cup. And everybody, especially our Indian fans, will be watching us more closely,” Harmanpreet said, speaking on JioStar.

Team vice-captain and opening batter Smriti Mandhana stated that she looks forward to the World Cup, and the team is hungrier than ever to lift the title. She further added that her responsibility as an opener has been to make better use of the powerplay and pace her innings accordingly. With the likes of Harmanpreet, Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh in the batting lineup, who can score runs at blistering strike rates, Mandhana has the accommodations to alter her approach accordingly.

"More than anything, I feel this team is really hungry. Everyone looks determined to do the right things and, for sure, we would like to carry our form into the T20 World Cup. For me, the biggest change has been making better use of the Powerplay and understanding what I can do between overs 6 and 10, then pacing my innings accordingly, whether we are chasing or batting first. There is just one mindset, to do well for India in whatever situation the team requires. If needed, I can anchor the innings or be the aggressor. That's my job. Then we have the likes of Shafali, Richa and Harman, we have so many power-hitters coming in later. Even me and Jemimah, in our own ways, can find a way to play at a similar strike rate,” Mandhana said.

When you win one, it is almost like an addiction: Jemimah Rodrigues

India comes into this tournament with a major monkey off its back after they won the ICC Women's World Cup in 2025, their first major trophy in the women's game. Batter Jemimah Rodrigues further added that winning that elusive trophy pushes the team more to win the next one. She spoke of her shift in mindset to taking more risks and trying to put the opposition bowlers under pressure during the tournament.

"What has happened with that World Cup win is that it has empowered us to be motivated to do even better. When you win one, and it may sound like a negative word, is almost like an addiction, you want to win another one. It pushes you even more,” Jemimah said.

" And as a batter, it is just a shift in mindset. In T20 cricket, compared to other formats, you have to take calculated risks. For me, it is about being smart with when to take those risks and how to put the bowlers and the opposition under pressure. That will be my mindset," she added.