Playing South Africa in T20I series is a great preparation before the World Cup, says Harmanpreet
Durban, April 17
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes the upcoming five-game T20I series against South Africa offers ideal preparation ahead of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup. With five matches lined up, the first of which takes place at the Kingsmead Stadium on Friday evening, the focus for India is on fine-tuning their approach and personnel for the T20 World Cup.
"Last time we met them was at the ODI World Cup final. It was a great match and a great memory to remember for a lifetime. In T20, every team is doing really well; they're very competitive. South Africa is one of the teams that has been doing really well for the last four years. I think before the World Cup, it's a great preparation for us," Harmanpreet said in a video posted by the BCCI on their social media accounts.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar pointed to India's recent successes across formats. "It's been enormous, I think - beating Australia in Australia 2-1. Prior to that, beating Sri Lanka at home 5-0. Prior to that, beating England in England 3-2. Very important in terms of prep, planning, and also the execution part," he said.
Harmanpreet added that the squad is shaping up well for the challenge in South Africa. "Everybody is looking very positive. Young girls are also looking very good in the nets. So, I mean, everyone is in good shape, good to see that," she said.
Muzumdar praised the intensity of the recent camp the side went through at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. "It's been fantastic, I think. We had a superb camp, a 10-day camp at the CoE. Everyone put in real hard yards. I think I've not seen this group of players work so hard as we've put in in the last 10 days," he said.
Harmanpreet summed up the team's outlook for the series. "Good that we are playing against good teams so that when we are heading for the main tournament, we are mentally and physically prepared. I think it's a very good stage for us."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see the focus on preparation. But I hope the team management is also looking at fixing the middle-order batting consistency. We can't afford collapses in big tournaments. That said, the recent wins are a huge confidence booster!
Harmanpreet is spot on. South Africa is a fantastic T20 side, especially at home. This 5-match series is perfect—it's not just about winning, but trying different combinations. Excited to see the young players get a chance! 🏏
As a cricket fan living in India, I'm really impressed with the structured planning. A 10-day camp at the NCA shows serious intent. The team looks united and hungry. Let's go girls, make us proud!
The momentum is with our women! Beating Australia in Australia was no small feat. This series is crucial to carry that winning mentality forward. Hope they broadcast all matches on free-to-air TV so more kids can watch and get inspired.
Fully agree with the captain. You need tough matches before a World Cup. South Africa will challenge us in every department. It's time to see if our spin attack, which is our strength, can dominate on their pitches. Best of luck!
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