Harmanpreet Eyes T20 Glory, Says Process Matters More Than Pressure
NEW DELHI- India captain Harmanpreet Kaur says the key to handling heightened expectations ahead of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is to remain focused on preparation and not allow outside pressure to disrupt the team’s process.
India enters the tournament in England and Wales on the back of its historic Women’s ODI World Cup triumph at home in 2025 and is now seeking its first Women’s T20 World Cup title. The team begins its campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 14.
Harmanpreet said increased expectations following India’s recent success reflect the growing popularity of women’s cricket.
“With success naturally comes more expectations, but I see that as a positive sign for women’s cricket. It shows that people are emotionally invested in the team and are following our journey closely.
“Personally, I try not to think too much about outside pressure. My focus remains on preparation, contributing to the team, and staying present in the moment. Over the years, I have realized that expectations will always exist at this level, and the key is to not let them distract you from your process.
“It is also very encouraging to see more fans engaging with women’s cricket now. Growing support motivates all of us to keep improving and performing consistently.”
Harmanpreet said the team’s preparatory camp at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru focused on fitness, match simulations, game awareness, handling pressure situations and role clarity.
“The preparatory camp at the Centre of Excellence was very structured and focused on multiple aspects of readiness for the T20 World Cup. Along with skill-based training, there was strong emphasis on fitness, match simulations, game awareness, and handling pressure situations.
“We also worked a lot on role clarity within the team, which is extremely important in T20 cricket because situations change very quickly.
“Camps like these help build rhythm and confidence as a group before a major tournament, and they also allow younger players to spend more time with experienced players in a competitive environment.”
Harmanpreet also discussed her evolving batting approach, which has helped her score at a strike rate of 132.3 in T20 Internationals this year — the highest of her career in a calendar year.
She credited discussions with India head coach Amol Muzumdar and a greater emphasis on intent and decision-making for the change in approach.
“Modern T20 cricket is constantly evolving, and as players, we also need to evolve with the demands of the game. The idea behind becoming more aggressive was not about changing my natural game completely, but about being more proactive and taking calculated risks earlier when the situation allows.
“A lot of discussions with the coaches, including Amol sir, helped in identifying areas where I could put more pressure on bowlers and improve scoring options.
“Once you trust your preparation and decision-making, you can play with more freedom and confidence.”
India faces a challenging group featuring Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Netherlands. The campaign begins against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 14, with Harmanpreet hoping the team’s emphasis on preparation, clarity of roles and staying focused on the process will help India capture the one major white-ball trophy that has so far eluded Indian women’s cricket. (IANS)
