Women`s T20 WC 26: Malhotra optimistic about India`s chances of clinching title

The Women`s T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to kick off from June 12, with the first match scheduled to be played between England and Sri Lanka at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.

Ahead of the marquee event, former cricketer Reema Malhotra feels that Team India is a strong contender to clinch the title. She feels that Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, and Shree Charani will have crucial roles in the campaign.

"Winning the ODI World Cup has significantly boosted the team`s confidence. The players now believe they can perform in any conditions and in any format. Players like Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav and Shree Charani will have very important roles. Shafali Verma can also contribute with the ball. The warm conditions are likely to assist spin bowling, and if India`s spin attack performs well, the team has the ability to lift the trophy," she told PTI.

The former cricketer also feels that senior bowlers can guide the young bowlers in the team. Despite the Indian batting lineup`s struggles during the tours of South Africa and England, Malhotra feels that finding the right combinations before World Cup is important.

"Before a World Cup, finding the right combination is more important than winning bilateral series. We tried several players on those tours. The objective was to provide match practice and build confidence ahead of the tournament," said the 45-year-old former cricketer.

Shifting her focus to Team India`s batting lineup, she feels that, along with Richa Ghosh, the team also has the likes of Bharti Fulmali for power-hitting.

"Apart from Richa Ghosh, the team also has Bharati Fulmali as a power-hitting option for the death overs. Yastika Bhatia provides an additional wicketkeeping option, while Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma bring immense batting experience. This team is no longer dependent on any one player," she said.

She reserved special praise for Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, saying that both batswomen have the ability to change the game`s situation.

"Mandhana and Shafali will be extremely important for the team. Both have the ability to change the course of a match. If they provide strong starts and the spin attack delivers, India`s chances of winning the trophy will increase significantly," said Malhotra.

(With PTI Inputs)