Top emerging stars who could shine at Women's T20 World Cup 2026

Eight young players from different teams are set to make their mark at the Women's T20 World Cup starting June 12 in England.

Tilly Corteen-Coleman shines in England Eighteen-year-old left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman is one of four spinners and the only teenager in England's squad. After improving significantly in the 2025 Hundred season with Southern Brave, she earned a spot in England's camp in South Africa in March where she impressed head coach Charlotte Edwards enough to make the World Cup team. Her breakthrough came at 16 when she took four wickets in four balls in the Charlotte Edwards Cup before earning an Under-19 World Cup call-up in 2025. Corteen-Coleman has a history of breaking through with key wickets, starting with Meg Lanning on her Hundred debut and more recently Richa Ghosh on her T20I debut. ## Kayla Reyneke’s explosive impact for South Africa Kayla Reyneke, a 20-year-old batting allrounder who also bowls offspin, led South Africa to the final of the 2025 Under-19 World Cup. Her powerful hitting and strong follow-through earned praise from senior captain Laura Wolvaardt, who called her explosive ability "pretty rare" for her age. Reyneke made history by hitting a six off the last ball in both her T20I and ODI debuts. On her ODI debut against New Zealand, she needed six off the final ball to win and cleared long-on to secure the match, earning Player of the Match honors, a feat she had already achieved twice in nine T20Is. ## Nandani Sharma makes surprise India squad Nandani Sharma was an unknown six months ago before earning a surprise call-up to India's squad. She announced herself with a hat-trick in her second WPL game and shone in an all-international bowling attack, including a five-wicket haul in one match. The pace bowler from Chandigarh impressed with variations, especially her slower ball, finishing the tournament with 17 wickets, tied for the most with Sophie Devine. Described as a "captain's delight" by Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues, Nandani quickly moved up to India A before making her T20I debut in England, where she took three wickets on debut. She could play a crucial role in death overs, particularly on the slower pitches expected in the World Cup. ## Bree Illing adds left-arm pace to New Zealand Bree Illing, a 22-year-old tall fast bowler, brings a new dimension to New Zealand's attack with her pace and swing. She is only the second left-arm quick to represent New Zealand in T20Is and could be dangerous in England's swinging conditions. Illing made headlines two years ago when she bowled a match-winning triple-wicket over for Auckland, dismissing three internationals—Natalie Dodd, Thamsyn Newton and Hannah Rowe—all lbw to inswing. After representing New Zealand A, she debuted in both ODI and T20I formats within ten days early last year and secured a central contract soon after. Illing could serve as a potent new-ball weapon for her team. ## Amy Hunter cements Ireland’s top order Five years after making her international debut at 15, Amy Hunter, now 20, has become a mainstay in Ireland's lineup. Since Ireland's last T20 World Cup in 2023, she has missed just four T20Is and scored 1331 runs at a strike rate of 120.56. Only Gaby Lewis (1491) has scored more runs for Ireland in this span. Among those with at least 100 runs since March 2023, only Orla Prendergast (122.16) and Lewis (121.12) have a higher strike rate than Hunter’s 120.56. In a recent tri-series, Hunter’s 56 off 44 balls against Pakistan set up Ireland’s highest successful chase in women’s T20Is. ## Lucy Hamilton edges past Darcie Brown for Australia Lucy Hamilton earned her spot in Australia’s squad by overtaking Darcie Brown, with head coach Shelley Nitschke calling her left-arm seam bowling "a real point of difference." She has captained Australia Under-19 in two World Cups and is set to make her senior women's T20 World Cup debut thanks to a standout six months. A quick 36 off 19 balls on her WPL debut quickly brought her into the spotlight. She earned a belated ODI call-up, took six wickets against India in her Test debut, and made her T20I debut during the West Indies tour. With conditions favoring seam and swing, the tall left-arm quick could be a key asset for Australia. ## Juairiya Ferdous brings fresh talent to Bangladesh At 20, Juairiya Ferdous is the second-youngest player in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup squad. Born in Jhenidah, 200km west of Dhaka, she competed in multiple sports before focusing on cricket. She represented Bangladesh in hockey and won gold medals in hockey, shot put, and kabaddi at the 2023 National Youth Games. A strong National Cricket League season last year led to her selection for the T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal, where she scored her first international fifty against Thailand. She warmed up for the World Cup with a half-century against Ireland, giving Bangladesh an explosive top-order option they’ve long sought. ## Gabriella Fontenla adds pace to Scotland’s attack Eighteen-year-old Gabriella Fontenla is just beginning her international career but has already drawn attention for her ability to bowl at high pace. She played in the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup for Scotland last year and had already made her ODI debut before that. Her T20I debut came recently in a tri-series featuring Bangladesh and Netherlands, where she dismissed Dilara Akter for her first wicket and was named Player of the Match. She plays club cricket for the Yorkshire Academy and could make a strong impression when Scotland face West Indies and England at Headingley.