Not long before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 starts, India Women’s team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur made a statement which very soon emerged as one of the most talked-about incidents leading up to this edition of the championship.
At the captains’ joint media conference, while being questioned regarding her retirement, she shot an equally sharp reply which immediately took fans back in time when MS Dhoni was asked the same thing at the 2016 Men’s T20 World Cup. Ahead of leading her team into yet another international event, Harmanpreet Kaur declined to discuss any future plans and instead brought the focus on the reporter sitting there.
The discussion intensified when a reporter asked the India captain whether the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup would be her last appearance at the global event. The question quickly shifted attention away from India’s preparations and towards her future.
However, Harmanpreet showed little interest in discussing retirement and instead turned the conversation back on the journalist, creating a moment that drew immediate comparisons with MS Dhoni’s famous 2016 press conference exchange, as she said, ‘Why? Do you think I should stop?’
When the reporter clarified that he was only checking, Harmanpreet replied, ‘Then why are you asking?’
India Focused on World Cup Challenge
Harmanpreet indicated that the focus of India still lies in the upcoming tournament and not on her retirement from the game.
The captain added that she hopes that the performance in the tournament would help enhance women’s cricket as she said, ‘Many girls, they’re coming to play cricket, and I think when we do well a lot of things change, and hopefully, we play our best cricket and try to make impact on women’s cricket.’
India have arrived at the competition on the back of a successful outing as they emerged winners of the ODI World Cup last season. They are hopeful of clinching their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup crown. The team has some good strength within its ranks with Radha Yadav and Bharti Fulmali being available for selection according to conditions.
The Indian team has already commenced their preparations for the tournament by beginning training camps in England prior to playing two warm-up matches against West Indies and England respectively.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: India’s Schedule
The India women’s team has been put in Group A along with Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and debutantes Netherlands in the tournament. The top two teams in Group A will qualify for the semifinals, thus making all games extremely important. While India women will start their ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 journey against Pakistan on June 14 at Edgbaston, they will then play against Netherlands on June 17 at Headingley, South Africa on June 21 and Bangladesh on June 25 at Old Trafford, before facing the six-time champion Australia on June 29 at Lord’s.
While India enters the tournament as one of the favorites to win it, Harmanpreet Kaur has already made herself very clear in this regard that winning is the only thing which she is interested in along with bringing a world cup home to India.