India out to make winning World Cups a habit

Not long ago, India were scripting their story on foreign shores and at home. They beat England in England, then Australia in Australia. Between those T20I series wins came a World Cup triumph and another WPL season with an Indian captain lifting the trophy. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side should enter the 2026 T20 World Cup as one of the strongest contenders.

But challenges confront them from the start in tricky Group A. Injuries to key pace-bowling all-rounders and successive series losses to South Africa and England have left them less comfortably placed. Their best combination isn't perfect, and indifferent form of key players has added to their woes. But they know from their latest World Cup experience: the present doesn't decide the future.

Squad: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud, Renuka Thakur, Nandni Sharma

Best XI: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil/Nandni Sharma, Renuka Thakur

Players to watch

Jemimah Rodrigues: The 25-year-old thrives in England. In 13 T20Is there, she strikes at 130.25, well above her career 118.98. With three seasons of The Hundred behind her and good current form, she'll marshal India's middle-order with pace and control.

Shree Charani: The 21-year-old left-arm spinner has enjoyed bowling in England. In seven matches preceding her last game, she took 14 wickets at under her career economy of 7.65. Even during India's tough run, she remained reliable—in five of seven games, she took at least a wicket and conceded seven or less an over.

What's in the news: Yastika Bhatia returned after nearly nine months out and slotted in at No. 3 against England. She impressed twice in the Powerplay but slowed significantly once field restrictions lifted. With three outings in three games, India are keeping options open—but it's uncertain if they can afford this gamble, with Richa Ghosh struggling for runs and not enough muscle in the lower middle order.

Where they finished in 2024: Only two wins—against Pakistan and Sri Lanka—saw India halted in the group stage.

How they've performed since: All went well until April 2025. They won away series in England and Australia, plus home series against West Indies and Sri Lanka—12 wins in 16 games before the South Africa tour. But in World Cup build-up, they've lost five of their last eight against South Africa and England.

The big game: vs South Africa. After a 1-4 series loss to Laura Wolvaardt's side, India face a tough test at Old Trafford. The result could shape their semi-final chances.

A record in sight: Smriti Mandhana needs 167 runs to become only the second batter to reach 4500 in women's T20Is. No batter has crossed 5000 yet. Arundhati Reddy needs two wickets to become the fourth Indian pacer to 50 T20I scalps.

Realistic expectation: Anything less than a final appearance would disappoint. But stiff challenges await along the way.