The Indian women’s team are on the road to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. They have hit a roadblock right at the start, losing the first W-T20I against South Africa. India didn’t play a bad game in Durban. They had the start, they had the platform, and at one stage, they had the control. Yet, they ended up 15-20 runs short and couldn’t close the game out with the ball. With just seven T20Is left before the World Cup begins on June 12, this is no longer about experimentation. It’s about their biggest players stepping up at the right time.
Ingredients are there but no certainty
Shafali Verma set the tone with her quickfire 34 at a strike rate of 200. Smriti Mandhana got going. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur stitched together a 71-run stand that should have taken India to 170-plus without breaking much sweat. Instead, they finished at 157.
That collapse at the back end has been a recurring issue. India made just 33 runs in the last five overs, lost four wickets, and more importantly, no one took ownership once Rodrigues fell. Harmanpreet stayed till the end with 47 not out but the innings around her stalled.
South Africa win the first T20I by six wickets.#TeamIndia's focus now shifts to the 2⃣nd T20I on Sunday.Scorecard t.co/gQymmRhJci#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/E7rPbCmmb9
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) April 17, 2026Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. not peaking together
Harmanpreet Kaur and company lost their last ODI series against Australia. The big players just didn’t step up. India have match-winners across the XI, but very rarely are they firing in the same game. Shafali gives you starts, Mandhana has been patchy, Jemimah is consistent without always going big and Harmanpreet is carrying the responsibility of finishing, with Richa Ghosh blowing hot and cold. Rodrigues herself admitted it after the match that a set batter needed to go deeper. That’s the difference between 157 and 175. Between competing and controlling.
Even with 157, India were in the contest. But 14 wides, dropped catches at the death, and an over-rate penalty that forced an extra fielder inside the circle in the final that cost India the game. Against top teams, these errors will always prove costly. On paper, India bat deep. Multiple all-rounders, plenty of options. In reality, those players haven’t had enough time in the middle under pressure. This is where the next seven games become crucial.
India women’s team schedule till T20 World Cup 2026
DateMatchVenueTeamsTime (IST)Apr 19, 20262nd T20IDurban, KingsmeadSouth Africa Women vs India Women5:30 PMApr 22, 20263rd T20IJohannesburg, Wanderers StadiumSouth Africa Women vs India Women9:30 PMApr 25, 20264th T20IJohannesburg, Wanderers StadiumSouth Africa Women vs India Women9:30 PMApr 27, 20265th T20IBenoni, Willowmoore ParkSouth Africa Women vs India Women5:30 PMMay 28, 20261st T20IChelmsford, County GroundEngland Women vs India Women11:00 PMMay 30, 20262nd T20IBristol, County GroundEngland Women vs India Women11:00 PMJun 02, 20263rd T20ITaunton, Cooper Associates County GroundEngland Women vs India Women11:00 PM7 T20Is to go for T20 World Cup 2026, India women’s team still eye big guns to perform Inside Sport India.
Hence then, the article about 7 t20is to go for t20 world cup 2026 india women s team still eye big guns to perform was published today ( ) and is available on Inside sport ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 7 T20Is to go for T20 World Cup 2026, India women’s team still eye big guns to perform )
Also on site :