Harmanpreet Kaur is riding high, and she’s determined to keep that wave of confidence going. Fresh from being honoured with the Padma Shri in New Delhi on Monday for steering India to their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title last year, the India captain set a clear, ambitious tone ahead of the opening T20I against England in Chelmsford.
The three-match series is more than just a standalone contest—it acts as a key runway toward the Women’s T20 World Cup in England. Harmanpreet will take part in her 10th edition of the event and will captain India for a fifth successive time. Still, despite all the accolades, one major goal continues to sit atop her list: a T20 World Cup trophy.
At 37, Harmanpreet is fully aware of what’s at stake. With the final scheduled for Lord’s, she spoke candidly about the significance of winning there—an outcome that would bring a special sense of completion. “It would be a dream come true,” she said. “For any cricketer who debuted in England and then gets to win a World Cup here, you can’t ask for anything more.”
From debut to destination
- Harmanpreet’s T20I journey with India began in England during the 2009 World Cup.
- In that opening phase, she managed just eight runs as India suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat to the hosts at Taunton after posting 112 for 8.
- Seventeen years later, she sees both her own career and Indian women’s cricket moving through a remarkable period of evolution.
The recent ODI World Cup success has, in her view, been pivotal to that change. Harmanpreet believes the triumph altered how the side approaches big moments — not just in terms of belief, but in how they handle pressure and finish games. “That win gave us belief. We now know how to handle pressure and close out big games. That confidence will definitely help us in the T20 World Cup,” she said.
Building for the T20 World Cup
India’s campaign in the T20 World Cup begins on June 14 against Pakistan in Birmingham. In the meantime, Harmanpreet underlined that the ongoing England series will play a crucial role in sharpening combinations and adjusting to local conditions.
