India women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has expressed confidence in young all-rounder Anushka Sharma ahead of the T20I series against South Africa, highlighting her potential as the team prepares for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference before the opening T20I on April 17 in Durban, Harmanpreet praised the youngster’s performances across competitions. “I think she is a great talent,” she said. “She did really well in WPL. And wherever she got the opportunity, especially in domestic cricket also, you know, she did really well. And she is an all-rounder who can always contribute with the ball also.”
Anushka featured in her debut WPL season for Gujarat Giants, scoring 177 runs in seven matches at an average of 25.28 and a strike rate of 129.19.
Focus on Experience Ahead of World Cup
Explaining the reasoning behind including Anushka in the squad, Harmanpreet underlined the importance of exposure at the international level. “So, yeah, I mean, exciting talent. That’swhy, you know, we wanted to bring her here to give some experience.”
She also noted that competing against a strong South African side would aid the youngster’s development. “I think South Africa is a team. They are very competitive… do well, you always get a lot of confidence… so that she can get some experience before the World Cup.”
India Enter Series with Confidence
Harmanpreet also reflected on the team’s overall mindset heading into the series, pointing to the confidence gained from recent success. “After the ODI World Cup, the team is looking quite confident. And wherever we are going, we are going with full confidence.”
She emphasised the significance of the series as preparation for the global tournament, adding, “I think it’s a great opportunity for us before the World Cup to, you know, all come together and play our best cricket.”
