India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has pledged that her team will play fearless cricket as it begins its ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Sunday. The much-anticipated clash marks the start of India’s quest for a maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title.
India enters the tournament following a mixed run in the warm-up matches. The team secured a convincing victory over West Indies before narrowly losing to hosts England by five runs in a thrilling contest. Despite the defeat, Harmanpreet believes the preparation games have boosted the squad’s confidence ahead of the tournament opener.
A major positive for India was the form of wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who smashed 68 runs off just 36 balls against England while nearly guiding the team to a challenging target of 172. Harmanpreet praised Richa’s innings, saying it reinforced the belief that India can turn games around if batters spend time at the crease.
The skipper acknowledged that India missed crucial partnerships during the chase against England but was encouraged by the team’s overall performance. She also revealed that the warm-up fixtures were used to provide every squad member with valuable match practice before the World Cup.
India has been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands. Harmanpreet expressed excitement about opening the campaign against Pakistan, predicting a vibrant atmosphere at Edgbaston.
“What a way to start it. Pakistan in Birmingham. That is going to be a sensational atmosphere,” she said, adding that India aims to play positive and fearless cricket from the outset.
The 2026 edition is the largest Women’s T20 World Cup in history, featuring 12 teams. A total of 33 matches will be played across seven venues in England, with the final scheduled to take place at Lord’s on July 5.
