The BCCI has announced India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be held in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5.
Harmanpreet Kaur will captain the side, which includes the return of wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia following ACL surgery. The squad also features new inclusions such as pacer Nandani Sharma and batter Bharti Fulmali. Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam were unavailable due to injuries.
India are the third team to confirm their squad after England and New Zealand. Their campaign will begin against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on June 14 at 7 PM IST.
India Squad
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav.
Key Inclusions and Returns
Yastika Bhatia’s return adds both wicketkeeping cover and depth in the batting order. Nandani Sharma earned selection after her performances in the Women’s Premier League 2026, where she claimed 17 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 18.58 and an economy rate of 8.31, including a five-wicket haul.
Bharti Fulmali strengthens the lower-middle order with her finishing ability, adding further balance to the batting lineup.
Recent Form and Context
India head into the tournament after a 4-1 T20I series defeat to South Africa in April 2026. South Africa secured the series with victories in the first three matches, including a nine-wicket win in the third T20I at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on April 22. India’s only win came in the fourth match, where they prevailed by 14 runs, before losing the final game by 23 runs in Benoni.
Group Stage and Schedule
India have been placed in Group 1 alongside Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Pakistan. Their opening fixture against Pakistan will be followed by matches against the other group opponents as they aim to progress beyond the league stage.
In the previous edition in 2024, India were eliminated in the group stage after a nine-run loss to Australia in their final match.
Preparations Ahead of the Tournament
India are scheduled to play a three-match T20I series in England from May 28 to June 2 as part of their preparations. Following the World Cup, they will also play a one-off Test at Lord’s from July 10 to 13.
With a mix of experienced players and new additions, the squad reflects a balanced approach as India prepare for the global tournament.
