They might have won the ICC Women's ODI World Cup, but Team India are in no mood to rest, captain Harmanpreet Kaur clarified to THE WEEK in an exclusive interview. They have already started preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup being hosted by England, as she wants the girls to make winning a habit. "We are not satisfied with just one trophy—we want many more," the first Indian to score a century in a WT20I match said.
The 36-year-old Punjab batter agrees that the Women's Premier League (WPL) has revolutionised the game and has changed the way Indian players see themselves in away conditions. The franchise league has managed to close the gap between domestic and international cricket for Indian stars by becoming "that big push we needed to face the world." It has brought forth a new mode of professionalism to women's cricket, as players are taking training and fitness more seriously.
Speaking about the need for a leader to be flexible, the Arjuna Awardee revealed that there was a point in her career when she feared her no-nonsense, straightforward manner would make her a feared personality among juniors. A crucial part of being a leader was understanding the need to deal with every player by learning about their comfort zones. Kaur said that she is now an expert in adjusting her style and tone depending on whom she is dealing with, and it has helped her teammates to be comfortable around her.
During the exclusive interaction, the 2022 Asian Games gold medallist also named Richa Ghosh as a youngster who has the potential to lead Team India in the future. The 22-year-old big-hitting wicketkeeper "has that spark in her," the veteran feels, and "has the potential to make it big" if groomed well.
Grab a copy of the December 28 edition of THE WEEK to read the exclusive interview with Harmanpreet Kaur in full.