Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Patchy India seek back-to-back ICC titles

Overview

The Indian women’s cricket team will embark on their campaign in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, having some unfinished business in the UK. The Women in Blue enter the competition as one of the favourites, having finally ended their long wait for a major title by lifting the ODI World Cup on home soil in November 2025.

While Harmanpreet Kaur and her team might not be in the best of form heading into the T20 extravaganza, they now have their biggest glory to draw inspiration from and script another historic chapter in Indian women’s cricket.

After failing in the final hurdle in the 2017 World Cup in England, India have a great chance to exorcise those ghosts on the same soil and lift their second successive ICC title.

How have they fared over the years?

India’s journey in the Women’s T20 World Cup started on a brilliant note as they made it to the semi-finals of the inaugural edition in 2009 in England, but lost to New Zealand. They again qualified for the semis in the following edition in 2010, only to lose to Australia. 

After three consecutive group stage finishes, they reached their third semi-final in 2018, where they again fell short against England. India reached their first-ever final in 2020 but were blown away by Australia, who hammered them by 85 runs in the summit clash.

The Women in Blue continued their good run and made it to the semi-finals in 2023, only to lose to their old nemesis, Australia, all over again by a narrow margin of five runs. In the last edition of the tournament in 2024, they faced a first-stage exit, drawing widespread criticism for their poor showing.

India's performances at Women's T20 World Cup

Recent form

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side has endured back-to-back series losses in the lead-up to the tournament. They were first hammered 1-4 by South Africa, followed by a 1-2 defeat against England. However, the Women in Blue have won four out of their last six series since the previous edition of the tournament.

Strengths

India head into the tournament with a settled batting unit, having all the top performers from their ODI World Cup triumph. It has been further bolstered by the return of Yastika Bhatia, who made a comeback to the side after a long injury layoff and recently played some impressive knocks against England. With several match-winners in the lineup from top to bottom, the Indian batting unit is bound to give nightmares to all the opponents.

Weaknesses

While the Women in Blue boast a reliable batting order, the same can’t be said about their bowling unit. With injuries to Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam, Renuka Singh Thakur will have the responsibility of doing the heavy lifting in the pace department, when her form has also been a concern.

She will have the support of Kranti Gaud, who’s also had her fair share of troubles in T20Is and an inexperienced Nandni Sharma, who recently made her international debut.

The biggest worrying factor for India will be their fielding as they’ve dropped several chances in the past few months, which have cost them dearly. With the margins set to get slimmer during the World Cup, a catch drop or a run-out miss could well pave the way for their early exit.

Predicted finish

With India placed in a tough Group A, progressing into the semi-finals will require a great deal of effort. Despite their recent performances, Women in Blue have it in them to at least make it to the semi-final.

Squad:

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Nandini Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav

India's fixtures at Women's T20 World Cup 2026: