India Women's Cricket Team 2026: Squad, Schedule & T20 World Cup Campaign
Indian women's cricket has never looked this powerful. Fresh off lifting the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 in the 50-over format, Harmanpreet Kaur's side is now chasing the one title that has eluded them, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The 2026 edition is going to start with England and Wales on June 12.
| Profile Metric | Team Detail & Averages |
| Team Name | India Women's National Cricket Team |
| Nickname | The Women in Blue |
| Captain | Harmanpreet Kaur |
| Vice-Captain | Smriti Mandhana |
| Total T20I Matches Played | 220 matches |
| Total Matches Won | 120 victories |
| Team Win Percentage | 55.36% |
| Average Runs Scored (Team) | 26 to 28 runs per batting innings |
| Average Wickets Taken (Team) | 19.50 to 20.50 runs per wicket |
| Average Run Rate (Overall) | 7 to 8 runs per over |
| Average Bowling Economy Rate | 6.75 runs allowed per over |
| Average Boundary Count | 15 to 20 boundaries hit per match |
India Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
India's 15-member squad was announced on May 2, 2026. Four new players are introduced to make the team much stronger. They will be injecting fresh energy into a relatively experienced core.
| Player | Role | Batting Avg / SR | Bowling Avg | Economy Rate |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (C) | All-rounder / Captain | 30.20 / 114.5 | 26.35 | 6.28 |
| Smriti Mandhana (VC) | Opening Batter / Vice-Capt | 27.50 / 122.4 | N/A | N/A |
| Shafali Verma | Opening Batter | 24.30 / 130.5 | 25.1 | 6.9 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Middle-order Batter | 29.80 / 115.2 | N/A | N/A |
| Bharti Fulmali | Middle-order Batter | 16.00 / 97.0 | N/A | N/A |
| Richa Ghosh | Wicket-keeper / Finisher | 26.80 / 133.2 | N/A | N/A |
| Yastika Bhatia | Wicket-keeper / Opener | 21.40 / 108.6 | N/A | N/A |
| Deepti Sharma | Lead All-rounder | 24.10 / 102.8 | 19.4 | 6.1 |
| Shreyanka Patil | All-rounder | 18.50 / 121.2 | 22.1 | 7.24 |
| Radha Yadav | Spinner | 9.60 / 101.4 | 21.5 | 6.54 |
| Nandani Sharma | Spinner (Debut Star) | 11.00 / 132.0 | 17.5 | 4.42 |
| Sree Charani | Spinner | 8.00 / 133.3 | 20.12 | 7.53 |
| Renuka Singh Thakur | Bowler (Pacer) | N/A | 22.4 | 6.45 |
| Arundhati Reddy | Bowler (Pacer) | 11.80 / 94.6 | 24.8 | 7.35 |
| Kranti Gaud | Bowler (Pacer) | N/A | 33.12 | 7.42 |
Notable absentees Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam were ruled out due to injury ahead of the squad announcement.
India Women's Cricket Team Key Players 2026 - The Core Six Who Can Win the World Cup
Harmanpreet Kaur
- Age: 37 (Born March 8, 1989)
- Role: Batting All-Rounder (Captain)
- Batting Style: Right-handed bat
- Bowling Style: Right-arm off-spin
The player is leading India for the fifth time in a T20 World Cup. Harmanpreet is no stranger to the big stage. She is the backbone of India's middle order. She is a power hitter who can change a game inside five overs. Her experience in England makes her leadership invaluable in 2026.
Having come close to winning the T20 World Cup on multiple occasions, she enters this tournament as a reigning world champion in the 50-over format. This adds a completely different kind of confidence to the dressing room.
Want to know more about Smriti Mandhana? Read her complete player profile on Skoringly.
Smriti Mandhana
- Age: 29 (July 18, 1996)
- Role: Opening Batter and Vice Captain
This is the player every opposition fears most at the top whenever India has to play first. Her ability to take on pace bowling in the powerplay makes her India's most consistent batter across all formats. Mandhana is a genuine match-winner in England as the conditions suit her side.
Shafali Verma
- Age: 22 years (January 28, 2004)
- Role: Opening batter
Shafali's role is very simple. She takes the game on early. Her strike rate at the top of the order gives India a completely different dimension. India's score climbs at a pace when Shafali fires. It puts opponents on the back foot from the first over.
Deepti Sharma
- Age: 28 years( August 24, 1997)
- Role: All-Rounder
- Batting: Left-handed batter
- Bowling: right-arm off-spin bowler
Deepti Sharma is arguably India's most versatile cricketer right now. She bats in the middle order and turns her off-spin at crucial moments in the game. In conditions that help spin, which English tracks offer in the second half of summer, Deepti becomes a genuine weapon. Her ability to take wickets and save runs in the same over is what makes her so hard to plan against.
Richa Ghosh
- Age: 22 years (September 28, 2003 )
- Role: Wicket-keeper-batter
The player is not just a wicketkeeper. She is India's designated finisher. Her ability to hit sixes in the final five overs has evolved significantly over the last two years. She enters the tournament with more confidence than ever in 2026. Richa has been a key part of the ODI World Cup-winning squad.
Renuka Thakur
- Age: 30 years (January 2, 1996 )
- Role: Bowler (Right-arm fast-medium)
Renuka's outswing with the new ball in English conditions could be a match-deciding weapon. England's overcast skies and green-tinged surfaces were made for a seamer like her. She's India's primary pace attacker and will carry the bowling load alongside Arundhati Reddy.
T20 World Cup 2026 Debutants: 4 New Indian Players Ready for the Big Stage
One of the most interesting aspects of this Indian squad is the introduction of four new faces at a World Cup:
Bharti Fulmali
- Age: 31 years (October 11, 1994)
- Role: Middle-order Batter
A hard-hitting batter from Amravati, Maharashtra, who brings aggression and freshness to India's batting order. Her power game and finishing ability make her a valuable lower-order asset.
Nandani Sharma
- Age: 24 years (September 20, 2001)
- Role: Right-arm Fast Bowler
Perhaps the most hyped of the four debutants. She was the joint-leading wicket-taker in WPL 2026, picking up 17 scalps in 10 matches for Delhi Capitals. She also took a rare hat-trick during the tournament — becoming only the fourth bowler in WPL history to do so. Her inclusion despite being uncapped internationally shows India's selectors have spotted something truly special.
Sree Charani
- Age: 21 years (August 4, 2004)
- Role: Left-arm Orthodox Spinner
The player provides crucial variety to India's bowling attack. She was part of the ODI World Cup-winning squad in 2025 and now steps onto the T20 World Cup stage for the first time.
Kranti Gaud
- Age: 22 years (August 11, 2003)
- Role: Right-arm Medium-Fast Bowler
A young pacer from Ghuwara, Madhya Pradesh, who brings genuine pace and aggression to India's bowling attack. She gives India the pace depth alongside the experienced Renuka and Arundhati, ensuring the attack never becomes one-dimensional.
These four debutants are not passengers. They were picked with specific roles in mind. Each brings a skill India needs to address.
The 5 Players Who Complete the India Women's Squad 2026
These five players may not always grab the headlines, but they form the backbone of a balanced and complete squad. Their experience, reliability, and specific skills are exactly what a World Cup campaign demands across five group stage matches and potentially two knockout games.
Jemimah Rodrigues
- Age: 25 (Born September 5, 2000)
- Role: Middle-order batter
A technically sound middle-order batter with exceptional temperament under pressure. England is a familiar environment for Jemimah, having played county cricket there, giving her a genuine edge when reading tricky surface conditions and swing bowling.
Yastika Bhatia
- Age: 25 (November 1, 2000)
- Role: Wicket-keeper batter
India's second wicketkeeping option behind Richa Ghosh. A technically solid left-handed batter who adds variety to the lineup. Her calm temperament under pressure makes her a dependable option in the middle order.
Shreyanka Patil
- Age: 23 (Born July 31, 2002)
- Role: Bowler / All-Rounder (Right-arm off-break)
An off-spin all-rounder who burst onto the scene in WPL and quickly became a trusted option in the middle overs. She can bat lower down the order and takes wickets with a sharp turn and deceptive flight. On turning tracks in England's second summer month, Shreyanka could easily become one of India's most important bowlers.
Radha Yadav
- Age: 26 years (Born: April 21 2000)
- Role: All-rounder
One of India's most experienced left-arm spinners in T20 cricket. Radha's ability to vary her pace and flight, combined with a sharp turn, makes her a genuine wicket-taking threat — particularly effective against right-handers in the middle overs. Her experience in big tournaments gives India a calm, reliable option when the pressure is highest.
Arundhati Reddy
- Age: 29 years (April 10, 1997)
- Role: All-Rounder
Renuka's pace partner with the new ball and at the death. Arundhati brings aggression and bounce to the attack, and her ability to bowl tight lines under pressure makes her a reliable option across all phases of the innings. She and Renuka form one of the more underrated new-ball partnerships in women's T20 cricket right now.
India Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
India has been placed in Group A, and their five group stage matches set up some serious contests. India will have a group A final game against Australia at Lord's on June 28.
| # | Date | Match | Venue | City |
| 1 | 14 June 2026 | India vs Pakistan | Edgbaston | Birmingham |
| 2 | 17 June 2026 | India vs Netherlands | Headingley | Leeds |
| 3 | 21 June 2026 | India vs South Africa | Old Trafford | Manchester |
| 4 | 25 June 2026 | India vs Bangladesh | Old Trafford | Manchester |
| 5 | 28 June 2026 | India vs Australia | Lord's | London |
The Pakistan clash on June 14 is a blockbuster opener. It is going to create high pressure on the teams from the fans. It will be a high-stakes rivalry match that will draw the largest viewership of the opening week.
India's Preparation with England Before the Cup
India played a three-match T20I series against hosts England as their final World Cup preparation:
1st T20I: May 28 - Chelmsford( India won by 38 runs )
2nd T20I: May 30 - Bristol ( England won by 26 runs )
3rd T20I: June 2 - Taunton ( England won by 4 runs )
The same squad that played the World Cup was used for this series. The team is giving every player chances to fix the particular spots. Players are getting used to match time in English conditions before the tournament begins. Playing in England before a tournament in England is as good preparation as it gets.
How India Stacks Up Against the Competition
The Title Favourites: India vs Australia
Australia is seeking its seventh T20 World Cup title and remains the benchmark in women's cricket. However, India in 2026 is not the same team that had group-stage exits in 2024. A 50-over World Cup win builds a completely different kind of belief.
The Defending Champions: New Zealand
New Zealand, led by Melie Kerr, is defending the title they won in 2024. This tournament also marks the farewell of legends Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu. This adds enormous emotional fuel to their campaign. India and New Zealand are in separate groups, so a potential meeting would only come at the semis or final.
The Host Nation: England
England is going to play at home. Their squad is led by Nat Sciver-Brunt. She is an experienced player. India has beaten England in a bilateral series before, but facing them in a knockout scenario in England is a different challenge altogether.
Why India Can Win the 2026 T20 World Cup
There are three clear reasons India enters this tournament as genuine contenders rather than hopefuls:
1. World Cup momentum: Winning the ODI World Cup in 2025 changes everything psychologically. The fear of the big occasion is gone. This squad knows what it takes to win an ICC event now, and that's priceless.
2. Batting depth: India can bat long in this format with players like Mandhana, Shafali, and Yastika. Even if the top order fails, there are match-winners at every position through to seven.
3. Spin variety: The Indian women's cricket team includes the best spinners. The players can change the game with their smart play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has India ever won the Women's T20 World Cup?
No. India has never won the Women's T20 World Cup. The 2026 edition is India's biggest shot at winning the tournament for the first time.
Who is the best player of India's 2026 women's T20 World Cup squad?
Deepti Sharma is considered to be one of the best players on the team.
Which group is India in for the Women's T20 World Cup?
India is in Group A for the 2026 World Cup.
Where is the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final being played?
The final is at Lord's Cricket Ground, London, on July 5, 2026.
The Indian team has always had talented players. Their ODI World Cup victory has given them confidence. Their focus is on winning the T20 World Cup. Fans say that the team is not just going to compete but also win. Stay updated with Skoringly for the latest news on the Women's T20 World Cup 2026. Check out everything you need to know about India women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur.