The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India’s squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. While Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana continue to be the captain and the vice-captain respectively, Amanjot Kaur misses out due to an injury.
The Road to England: Context and Stakes
After a historic 2025 where India clinched the ODI World Cup on home soil, the transition to the shortest format has been a rollercoaster. India arrived at this selection meeting following a stinging 4-1 series loss to South Africa, a result that has raised urgent questions about the team’s middle-order stability and death-bowling options.
However, the silver lining remains India’s explosive top order. Smriti Mandhana (725 runs in the current cycle) and Shafali Verma (SR 160.0) continue to be the world’s most feared opening duo. Bharti Fulmali has been named in the team. The same squad will take on England in a three-match T20I series ahead of the tournament. Among the big names were missed out were Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal.
India in Group 1 in T20 World Cup
India finds itself in a challenging Group 1 alongside defending champions Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The mission is clear, break the Australian stranglehold and bring home the T20 trophy that has eluded them since the tournament’s inception.
Here is our coverage recap:
India Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Announcement Live Updates: India's squad for Test against England
1) Harmanpreet Kaur [C] 2) Smriti Mandhana [VC] 3) Shafali Varma 4) Jemimah Rodrigues 5) Pratika Rawal 6) Deepti Sharma 7) Richa Ghosh (WK) 8) Sree Charani 9) Yastika Bhatia (WK) 10) Nandini Sharma 11) Harleen Deol 12) Renuka Thakur 13) Kranti Gaud 14) Sayali Satghare 15) Sneh Rana
"We thought Bharati Fulmali was a better option in the middle-order, but Harleen is not out of our scheme of things. She is there in the one-off Test squad," says India women's team Chief selector Amita Sharma.
India Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement LIVE: Harmanpreet Kaur's comment on Bharti
"Bharti completes batting attack. Nandini was among highest wicket-takers in WPL. They bring a different positive energy to group," says Harmanpreet.
India Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement LIVE: Harmanpreet Kaur on South Africa series disappointment
"I won't judge my players on basis of one series. They have given many performances. It is not an inexperienced side,"India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
India Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement LIVE: Amita Sharma on team combination
We have tried to strengthen our bowling attack which was an issue during recent South Africa series: Selection panel head Amita Sharma.
India Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement: BCCI shares video to announce squad
The wait is over! ⌛
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) May 2, 2026
🚨 Presenting #teamindia’s squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 🇮🇳
Let's bring out the cheers for #womeninblue 🤩#t20worldcup pic.twitter.com/vZTGtqeTZL
India's squad for T20 World Cup 2026 and T20 series against England: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Nandini Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav,
India T20 World Cup Squad 2026 Live Updates: Press conference begins
Harmanpreet Kaur and Devajit Saikia take their chairs and the conference begins.
India T20 World Cup Squad 2026 Live Updates: Live Broadcast begins
In case you are wondering where to watch the press conference, the live broadcast for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 has started on Start Sports and JioHotstar.
India T20 World Cup Squad 2026 Live Updates: Team for more than one assignment set for today
India T20 World Cup Squad 2026 Live Updates: A key reminder for fans following today’s selection developments, this announcement will not be limited to just the World Cup squad.
Along with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 team, the selectors will also name India’s squads for the upcoming away tour of England. In addition, India A squads for both the three-match ODI series and the three-match T20I series against England A will also be announced during the same press conference.
With multiple team selections set to be revealed in one go, today’s update is expected to be a significant moment for Indian women’s cricket ahead of a packed England tour.
India T20 World Cup Squad 2026 Live Updates: Press conference scheduled at 5 PM as squad announcement nears
India T20 World Cup Squad 2026 Live Updates: There is currently no official update from the ongoing selection meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, but the announcement is expected shortly at the scheduled press conference.
The media briefing will take place at 5:00 PM IST, where India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, selection committee chairperson Amita Sharma, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia will address the media. The final 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is also expected to be unveiled during the same session.
With anticipation building, fans are waiting for clarity on India’s squad composition and key selection calls ahead of the tournament in England.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Can Women in Blue end T20 World Cup trophy drought?
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live Updates: As India prepares to announce its squad for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, all eyes are on the selection committee and the key decisions that will shape the team’s campaign.
The tournament, scheduled to be played in England from June 12 to July 5, offers India another chance to secure their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title.
Expectations are high following Harmanpreet Kaur’s side lifting the 2025 ODI World Cup at home, a landmark achievement that ended a long wait for a senior global trophy.
However, India’s T20 record has been inconsistent, marked by strong performances against top sides like Sri Lanka, England, and Australia, but also a concerning 4-1 series defeat in South Africa that exposed vulnerabilities, especially in the bowling unit.
Saturday’s squad announcement is expected to be crucial in defining India’s direction in the shortest format, balancing proven performers with emerging talent as they aim to mount a serious title challenge in England.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: India Women's T20 World Cup History
Has India won the Women's T20 World Cup? As of May 2026, the Indian Women’s team has never won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Best Finish: Runners-up in 2020, where they lost to Australia in the final at the MCG.
Recent Performance: India reached the semi-finals in 2023 but suffered a narrow 5-run defeat to Australia.
Current Goal: Following their 2025 ODI World Cup victory, the Women in Blue are aiming to secure their first-ever T20 World Cup title in the upcoming 2026 edition in England and Wales.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: India looking to avoid the heartbreak of 2024
India’s placement in Group 1 (alongside Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Netherlands) has dictated today’s meeting. The selectors are specifically looking for big-game temperaments. The goal is to avoid the Heartbreak" of 2024, where India crashed out in the league stage for the first time since 2016. The recent 2025 ODI World Cup victory is the mental template they are trying to replicate.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Debate over the role of anchor batters
Quite a few media reports indicate a heated debate over India's anchor players. Following the 4-1 drubbing in South Africa, the selectors are reportedly leaning toward a strike-rate first policy. While the top three of Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues are locked in (having scored 1,858 of India's 2,038 runs at the top this cycle), the middle order is being overhauled. Expect Richa Ghosh and Bharti Fulmali to be given license to attack from ball one.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Will Nandini Sharma get a game?
A surprise name gaining traction in the final minutes is Nandni Sharma. Despite being uncapped, her 17 wickets in the WPL and her natural ability to extract bounce have made her a late swing-specialist contender for the English tracks.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: The Strike Rate mandate
Early whispers suggest the committee has adopted a no-fear policy for the English summer. Following Sanju Samson's Player of the Tournament performance in T20 World Cup 2026, selectors are reportedly favouring high-impact players over traditional anchors. Richa Ghosh and Shafali Verma are confirmed as the heartbeat of this strategy, while Bharti Fulmali is heavily favored to fill the middle-order finisher role after her recent recall.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Meeting officially begins
The doors to the boardroom at the BCCI Headquarters in Mumbai have officially closed as the Selection Committee meeting is now underway. Chairs Amita Sharma and her team, alongside captain Harmanpreet Kaur, are currently deliberating the final composition of the 15-member squad.
📸
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) May 2, 2026
The Selection Committee Meeting for #teamindia's squad announcement for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is underway at the BCCI headquarters. 🙌#womeninblue | #t20worldcup pic.twitter.com/3xg8k8oMzJ
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Mandhana, Shafali, Jemimah set to dominate India’s top order?
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live Updates: India’s top-order combination appears to be settling firmly around Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues, forming a stable and high-impact batting core ahead of the global tournament.
Since the last T20 World Cup cycle, as many as eight different players have been tried in India’s top three positions, but the results strongly favour this trio. Out of a total 2038 runs scored by India’s top-order batters in this period, a massive 1858 runs have come from Mandhana, Shafali, and Jemimah alone, highlighting their consistency and importance to the team’s batting structure.
With such dominance in output, the trio is now widely expected to form India’s first-choice top three as the Women in Blue head into a crucial World Cup campaign in England.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Who will open for India? Smriti Mandhana-Shafali Verma set to lead
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live Updates: India appear to have settled on their opening combination ahead of the tournament, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma likely to continue as the preferred top-order pair.
Despite multiple experiments by the team management in recent series, the duo’s experience and aggressive style at the top make them the frontrunners to open the innings in the World Cup.
At No. 3, Jemimah Rodrigues is expected to play a key stabilising role, offering both flexibility and control in the middle order as India look to balance explosiveness with consistency in English conditions.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Middle-Order Stabiliser vs. Finisher
While Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma are locks at the top, the middle-order remains the primary discussion point. Following a heavy 4-1 series loss to South Africa last month, there is pressure to find a finisher who can handle English seam. Bharti Fulmali, who recently earned a recall, is rumoured to be the frontrunner for that explosive No. 6 or No. 7 slot.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Headache of plenty for selectors
Selectors are facing a significant headache of plenty. In this World Cup cycle (since 2024), India have used 25 different players in T20Is, the second-highest number globally, trailing only Singapore. Eight of these players were debutants, highlighting a massive youth push. The big question in the room right now: Do they revert to a conservative veteran core for the World Cup, or stick with the experimentation that has defined the last 18 months?
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Injury Watch: Amanjot Kaur
Sources close to the team suggest Amanjot Kaur has undergone a fitness test this morning. Her utility as a seam-bowling all-rounder makes her indispensable for the English summer, but a lingering back issue has the medical team on high alert. It would be interesting to see if she is able to make the cut or is named subject to fitness clearance.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Bowling Depth: N Shree Charani the Lock?
With 24 wickets in the current T20 cycle (averaging 19.9), N Shree Charani is reportedly a non-negotiable for the selectors today. Her ability to swing the ball early is seen as vital for the matches at venues like Edgbaston and Headingley.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: Full India schedule revealed
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live Updates: India’s complete schedule for the T20 World Cup 2026 is now out, with the Women in Blue set to begin their campaign against Pakistan on June 14.
Here is India’s full match schedule
June 14, 2026: India vs Pakistan – Edgbaston, Birmingham – 7:00 PM IST
June 17, 2026: India vs Netherlands – Headingley, Leeds – 7:00 PM IST
June 21, 2026: India vs South Africa – Old Trafford, Manchester – 7:00 PM IST
June 25, 2026: India vs Bangladesh – Old Trafford, Manchester – 7:00 PM IST
June 28, 2026: India vs Australia – Lord’s, London – 7:00 PM IST
The schedule sets up a challenging group stage for India, including high-pressure clashes against Australia and South Africa, with the marquee India vs Pakistan opener expected to draw massive global attention.
India Women T20 World Cup Squad 2026 Live: When does IND vs ENG T20I series start?
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live Updates: The three-match T20I series between India Women and England Women is set to begin on May 28, 2026, serving as a key build-up to the World Cup.
The series will be crucial for India to adjust to English conditions, test combinations, and gain match readiness ahead of the tournament, which begins in June.
India Women T20 World Cup Squad 2026 Live: Will India play matches before the tournament?
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live Updates: Yes, the Women in Blue will have crucial match practice ahead of the global event, with a three-match T20I series against England scheduled in England before the tournament begins.
This pre-World Cup series is expected to play a key role in helping India fine-tune combinations, adapt to English conditions, and finalise their playing XI ahead of the marquee opener. It also gives the team valuable game time just weeks before the World Cup kicks off, making it a vital part of their preparation strategy.
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live: IND vs PAK opener on June 14 at Edgbaston
India Women T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Live Updates: India will kick off their campaign against Pakistan on June 14 in a high-voltage clash at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with the match scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST.
Fresh off their historic ODI World Cup triumph in 2025, the Women in Blue will now shift focus to the T20 format as they aim to add another global title to their cabinet. The marquee India vs Pakistan opener is expected to set the tone for their campaign in England, with fans already building anticipation for the blockbuster encounter.
India Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement: Hello and welcome!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the India women's T20 World Cup squad announcement.