India eye maiden T20 World Cup glory after historic ODI triumph in 2025

India aim to double their ICC silverware tally at the 2026 T20 World Cup after clinching their first ODI title in November 2025.

Decades long quest for ICC silverware For years, the pressing question surrounding the Indian women's team revolved around when they would finally claim an ICC trophy. This burden seemed to accompany the team on every tour, an unwanted but unavoidable presence they could not shake off. The near-miss at Lord's in the 2017 ODI World Cup final fuelled their belief that they were close to breaking through. By the 2020 T20 World Cup final, the distance between India and Australia became glaringly clear, reinforcing the gap between the two finalists. ## 2025 ODI triumph shifts narratives forever The victory in the 2025 ODI World Cup marked a defining moment with wide-reaching impact. It ignited aspirations among young girls at grassroots levels, unlocked fresh commercial opportunities for players, and propelled their visibility to new heights—from domestic billboards to global magazine covers. This success also sparked discussions around key squad inclusions, including the recall of players like Bhatia and Radha for the upcoming T20 World Cup. ## New era brings fresh expectations for India Seven months after their ODI triumph, the narrative has shifted dramatically for India. As the 2026 T20 World Cup in England approaches, the focus is no longer on when they will win but whether they can secure back-to-back titles. Jemimah Rodrigues shared her team's elevated energy, stating, "The team is very charged up." She added, "Winning that World Cup has empowered and motivated us to perform. Once you win one, it becomes like an addiction—you crave another title, and this group is showing that hunger." ## Dominant display in lead-up to T20 World Cup Even before the euphoria of the ODI win faded, India's sights were set on the T20 World Cup just six months away. During a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in December 2025, India fielded debuts to teenager wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini and left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma. They experimented with bowling combinations, chased totals comfortably, and posted their highest T20I total of 221 to sweep the series 5-0. ## Coach highlights culture of winning habits Head coach Amol Muzumdar emphasized the importance of cultivating winning habits during the team's camp in Bengaluru ahead of departure. "Winning is a habit. If you cultivate good habits, I think you're on the right track," he told reporters. The team now carries no historical baggage, free from the weight of being labelled second-best or falling short in finals. This T20 World Cup will test whether the winning habit can take root while the taste of success remains fresh. ## Captain outlines mindset and added pressure Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on the team's mental shift, noting how the ODI victory erased lingering doubts overnight. "Our mindset and feelings are the same because we all know we have been working really hard for so many years," she said. "Finally, last year we won—that too at home. Now it's about carrying that confidence because home conditions are tough. With the World Cup in England, there will be pressure, but we have set standards for ourselves. Fans will watch closely, and we must give our 100% on the field." ## Historic win fuels team belief under pressure The belief within the squad stems from a defining moment: India's semi-final win over Australia in the 2025 World Cup under immense pressure. Jemimah Rodrigues' unbeaten century sealed the historic chase. India's confidence soared further after defeating South Africa in the final—South Africa had been a more consistent semifinalist than India in recent World Cups in both formats. ## T20 World Cup presents tougher challenge ahead Despite the ODI title, the upcoming T20 World Cup carries its own set of challenges. Staying at the top, players realize, may be harder than reaching it. Rodrigues acknowledged the competitive landscape, saying, "We know we are going to get good competition. Every team will want to defeat team India, and we take pride in that because we want to defeat every other team and win another World Cup." ## Smriti Mandhana leads top order with confidence Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two WPL titles, spoke about the team's growing T20 confidence. "We want to continue the good form we've had, especially after the 50-over World Cup success," she said. "The WPL helped many players gain experience, and the T20 series win in Australia was good. With this team, they're really hungry to do the right things." She also noted that while ODIs feel more comfortable, their recent T20 performances have been strong. ## WPL influence elevates young Indian stars The Women's Premier League has visibly shaped India's T20 World Cup squad. Nandani Sharma made her T20I debut just two weeks before the tournament after finishing the last WPL as joint-top wicket-taker with Sophie Devine. Richa Ghosh, who debuted in the same year the WPL launched, has refined her finishing skills against top bowlers. Shafali Verma has shed her inconsistency tag, currently ranking among the top-four scorers in the WPL and second only to Harmanpreet among Indians, with a strike rate over 152. Bharti Fulmali, at 31, earned a late call-up after posting a strike rate of 147 and eight sixes in 81 balls for Gujarat Giants in WPL 2026. ## India unfazed by home advantage of England England, ranked above India in ICC T20I rankings alongside Australia, will have home comforts in the 2026 T20 World Cup—the first since their ODI title win at Lord's nine years ago. India, however, remain undeterred. "We won the ODI and T20 series in England in 2025. That gave us a lot of confidence that if we can beat England in England, then with this squad, the sky is the limit," Muzumdar stated. Their 3-2 series win in England last summer included back-to-back victories, overcoming the challenge of defending totals after losing the toss. ## Fans remain the driving force abroad While the home stadiums in Gwalior, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Navi Mumbai buzzed with Indian supporters during the ODI World Cup, the upcoming T20 World Cup in England may lack the same home-crowd advantage. Harmanpreet Kaur reassured, "Whenever we play in England, we get huge support from the fans, and in this World Cup also, I think, whenever we'll take the field, we're going to see massive support from our fans." ## Final test: translating 2025 momentum into 2026 glory The upcoming T20 World Cup will not question India's capability or hunger to win—it will test whether that hunger becomes a sustainable habit. The positive momentum from 2025 must translate into another world title. As Rodrigues put it, the team is driven by a newfound addiction: the relentless pursuit of victory and the pride in defeating every other team on their path to greatness.