New Delhi: India women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur remains confident about her team’s prospects at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 despite suffering a 2-1 series defeat against England.
England secured the three-match series after winning the decider by six wickets at Taunton, successfully chasing a target of 181 with nine balls to spare. The match marked India’s final competitive outing before the start of the World Cup, which begins on June 12.
Reflecting on the defeat, Harmanpreet said India had remained firmly in contention but failed to claim a crucial wicket at a decisive stage of the chase. She pointed to the partnership between Alice Capsey and Heather Knight as the turning point that shifted momentum in England’s favour.
Despite the setback, the Indian skipper emphasized that the team had gained valuable insights and confidence from the series. She said the squad had identified several positives and was largely settled on its preferred playing eleven ahead of the global tournament. However, she added that upcoming practice matches would provide opportunities to assess alternative combinations and give other squad members a chance to impress.
Earlier in the match, India posted a competitive total of 180 for 5 after being asked to bat first. Harmanpreet led the innings with an unbeaten 56, while Deepti Sharma contributed 32 runs and Jemimah Rodrigues added 29. England’s bowling attack, led by Lauren Bell, managed to contain India during the closing overs and prevent a larger total.
England’s chase began shakily as they slipped to 38 for 3. However, Capsey’s brilliant 82 and Knight’s unbeaten 70 transformed the contest. Their 137-run partnership effectively ended India’s hopes of victory and guided England to a comfortable win.
India will now shift its focus to the World Cup, where it begins its campaign with a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14. With preparations nearing completion, the team hopes to carry the lessons learned from the England series into the tournament.
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