Women’s T20 WC: ‘No one knows comebacks better than us,’ says Deepti Sharma before Bangladesh test

India’s hopes of reaching the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals may be hanging in the balance, but all-rounder Deepti Sharma believes the team has the resilience and belief needed to bounce back when it matters most.

With a crucial Group A clash against Bangladesh looming at Old Trafford on Thursday, India know another setback could seriously dent their knockout-stage ambitions following a six-wicket defeat to South Africa earlier in the tournament.

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Despite the pressure, Deepti said the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side remains confident of turning things around and drawing strength from its history of responding positively to adversity.

“A champion team always looks to make a strong comeback. As a team, we know how to come back from situations like these, and we know the strength of this group. We always try to keep each other positive and create the right mindset within the team,” Deepti said in a video shared by the BCCI on social media.

The experienced all-rounder highlighted India’s mental toughness and pointed to the team’s remarkable turnaround during the previous ODI World Cup, when they recovered from three successive league-stage defeats to eventually lift the trophy on home soil.

“When we have determination, we become mentally stronger for big matches. I think no one knows how to make a comeback better than us. Like in the last ODI World Cup, we have immense trust in each other and believe we can make a strong comeback again,” she added.

India’s defeat to South Africa exposed several concerns, including a middle-order collapse, missed opportunities in the field and a lack of alternatives when the bowling plans failed to click.

Those issues leave India with little room for error heading into the final phase of the group stage. Victories against Bangladesh and defending champions Australia will likely be essential if they are to secure a place in the semi-finals.

After Bangladesh, India will face Australia at Lord’s on Sunday in what could prove to be a decisive encounter in their World Cup campaign.

For now, however, the focus remains firmly on Bangladesh, with Deepti and her teammates determined to show the fighting spirit that has defined many of India’s finest moments on the global stage.