Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Harmanpreet Kaur confident about Team India's chances of clinching title

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur with the T20 World Cup trophy at BCCI’s Wankhede headquarters on Saturday PIC/ASHISH RAJE

India's ICC Women's ODI World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes her team are favourites to win their maiden T20 World Cup to be held in England between June 12 and July 5.

"I will definitely rate this team [favourites to win the T20 World Cup]. And I'm sure every player we picked today [Saturday] has the calibre to become a champion. There is no pressure, no extra burden, and no overconfidence. T20 cricket is about playing good cricket and giving your 100 per cent on a particular day and hopefully, we'll do our best," said a confident Kaur during the press conference after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced the Indian team at the BCCI headquarters on Saturday.

Vidarbha batter Bharti Fulmali, 31, who has played just five T20Is, replaces experienced Harleen Deol as a middle-order batter, while Chandigarh-born pacer Nandani Sharma, 24, has earned her maiden India call-up as Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam miss out due to injuries. Other key inclusions are left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Radha Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia, who were not part of India's recent South Africa tour, where India lost the T20I series 1-4.

Nandani Sharma and Bharti Fulmali

When Sunday mid-day asked Kaur, who will be playing her 10th T20 World Cup, about challenges in English conditions and on swing-friendly pitches, she replied: "If I compare our last two series in England, we did really well in T20Is and ODIs too. So, it's not like we struggle in England. But, again, it will be a new season, new tournament, we have to start from ball one. The last series [vs South Africa] was quite challenging for us. But hopefully, in the upcoming month, we will try to cover everything and will try to come back stronger."

The Indian women's team will have a seven-day camp at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from May 10, before leaving for England on May 22.

When asked about Fulmali replacing Harleen, chief selector Amita Sharma said: "We [selection committee] felt that Fulmali is a slightly better option for Harleen's middle-order slot. Harleen is obviously in our scheme of things and we have kept her for the Test [vs England]. But right now, for T20s, Fulmali is a better option."

Ahead of the T20 World Cup, India will play a three-match T20I series against England starting May 28 in Chelmsford. After the T20 World Cup, they will play a one-off Test at Lord's beginning July 10.

India's performance in T20 World Cups

India's best result is a runners-up finish in 2020. Hosts Australia beat India by 85 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

India underperformed in the last T20 World Cup (2024), exiting in the group stage after losses to New Zealand and Australia in UAE

India's biggest hurdle has been Australia. The team from Down Under have always beaten India whenever they have met in the knockouts (2010, 2020, 2023)

India's squad for one-off Test against England

Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana

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India's winning percentage after the 2024 T20 World Cup - they have won 13 and lost eight of 21 T20Is

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No of T20 World Cups Harmanpreet Kaur has led India in so far