India women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes her team’s recent run of commanding performances has created a winning culture ahead of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 in the UAE and the Asian Games in Japan. Fresh from India’s historic 270-run victory over England in the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s, Harmanpreet’s side will begin its Asia Cup campaign against Thailand in Dubai on August 30 before turning its attention to defending its Asian Games gold medal.
The sixth edition of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup begins on August 28, with India placed in Group A alongside Hong Kong, Thailand and arch-rivals Pakistan. India, who lifted the trophy in 2012, 2016 and 2022, will be eager to reclaim the title after losing the previous edition to Sri Lanka.
Speaking to Sony Sports, Harmanpreet highlighted the consistency India have developed over the past few seasons. “The last 4-5 years have been good, and where we have played good cricket, dominating cricket, have defeated big teams and won series also,” she said.
India’s historic triumph at Lord’s has further strengthened the team’s belief. The 270-run victory was India’s second-largest win by runs in women’s Tests and the fourth-biggest margin in the history of the format. For Harmanpreet, however, the significance of the result extends beyond one memorable Test match.
“Now, we are coming after the win at Lord’s and have also won many games on the trot, so the team has already tasted success and will be hungry for more,” the skipper added.
India will open their Asia Cup campaign against Thailand, led by Naruemol Chaiwai, in the tournament’s third match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium from 8 PM IST on August 30. Although India enter the competition as one of the strongest teams in Asian cricket, Harmanpreet believes the expectations attached to that status bring their own challenge.
“I think the biggest challenge is when you have the ‘good team’ tag; playing for those expectations is in itself a very big challenge,” she explained. “It’s very important to play every match with that domination.” The group-stage meeting with Pakistan is likely to attract the tournament’s greatest attention. Harmanpreet acknowledged that the intensity surrounding the fixture is unlike any other contest, even for players accustomed to international pressure.
“The amount of pressure in an India vs Pakistan match, that kind of pressure you don’t feel anywhere else,” she said. Her approach, however, remains uncomplicated: “Only focus on cricket, focus on our aims, focus on our routines.”
After the Asia Cup, India will begin their Asian Games campaign against Japan in the first quarter-final at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, from 5:30 AM IST on September 17. Having won gold in their Asian Games debut at Hangzhou, Harmanpreet understands the unique value of competing for a medal.
“As a cricketer, I think this is a very big opportunity,” she said. “When it’s about the medals, the motivation increases even more.”
(Quotes sourced from Sony Sports)
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