Ahead of India’s Women’s T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, captain Harmanpreet Kaur said the team is focused only on cricket and is ready to embrace the pressure of the marquee encounter.
India women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur poses with the trophy during the Women's T20 World Cup Captains' Carnival, at Waterloo Bridge, London on Sunday, June 07, 2026. (Photo: IANS/X/@BCCIWomen)
With another high-stakes India-Pakistan showdown on the horizon, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur made it clear that her team’s focus extends no further than the cricket field, insisting that the dressing room conversations revolve solely around the game.
Speaking on the eve of India’s Group 1 clash against Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Harmanpreet said her side is treating the fixture like any other international contest, even though it naturally carries extra attention and pressure.
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“We are here for cricket, and we only talk about cricket. Except that, we don’t talk about anything, and I don’t even talk about anything except cricket,” Harmanpreet told reporters.
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“Cricket has been our dream from day one, and we only discuss cricket and tomorrow’s game. We are only thinking about it. It’s another game which we are going to play,” she added.
The comments come ahead of one of the most anticipated matches of the Women’s T20 World Cup. The rivalry drew attention last year as Harmanpreet and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana did not exchange a handshake during the toss of their ODI World Cup meeting, adding another talking point to the contest.
Also Read: India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Preview: All you need to know before the big clash
Acknowledging the emotions that surround an India-Pakistan clash, Harmanpreet said pressure is inevitable but believes the challenge should be embraced rather than feared.
“Definitely, pressure is going to be there. Whenever we play against Pakistan, pressure is going to be there. But at the same time, it’s only about how we are going to enjoy that pressure,” she said.
“Because in any international game, pressure is going to be there. It’s only about giving your 100 per cent in that game and enjoying every moment.”
India head into the tournament with renewed confidence after ending their long ICC trophy drought by winning the ODI World Cup last year. Having reached the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals on five occasions and the final once, the Women in Blue will now aim to convert years of consistent performances into their maiden T20 World Cup title.
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