Head coach Amol Muzumdar optimistic about Team India`s chances of winning title

The Indian women`s cricket team ended its long wait for the ODI World Cup by clinching its first-ever title last year. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. will begin the Women`s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with an aim of winning the first title.

Team India is placed in Group A along with Australia, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and South Africa.

The "Women in Blue" will begin the campaign by playing their first match against arch-rivals, Pakistan, on June 14 at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.

Ahead of the clash, when asked if there is extra pressure on the Indian team, head coach Amol Muzumdar said that the World Cup that they won was in a different format, and they are looking forward to winning title in shortest format.

"It`s a completely different format, isn`t it? I mean, yes, we won the World Cup but that was in the ODIs, this is a brand new format. So, I guess we are really looking forward for it. One thing I can assure you that we would take a lot from that World Cup getting into this tournament because we know for a fact that we will cross the line," he said.

The semi-final 1 of the mega event will be played on June 30 at The Oval in London, followed by the semi-final 2 on July 2 at the same venue.

The title clash of the Women`s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be played on July 5 at the Lord`s Cricket Ground in London.

Women`s T20 World Cup 2026, India vs Pakistan: Full squads

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Jemimah Rodrigues, Arundhati Reddy, Bharti Fulmali, Renuka Singh, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Richa Ghosh (WK), Shreyanka Patil, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani.

Pakistan: Diana Baig, Iram Javed, Aliya Riaz, Ayesh Zafar, Muneeba Ali (WK), Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Fatima Sana (C), Tube Hassan, Sadia Iqbal, Gull Feroza, Eyman Fatima, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab.

(With PTI Inputs)