Harmanpreet Kaur urges India to recreate World Cup magic at inaugural Women's Champions Trophy
Harmanpreet Kaur said during an Omaxe Estates event on Saturday that she wants India to recreate their Women's ODI World Cup success at the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in Mumbai and Vadodara from February 14 to 28, 2027. The World Cup-winning captain told media she hopes the home venues will allow the team to produce similar moments at the tournament.
Although the celebrations after India’s historic Women's ODI World Cup triumph have subsided, Harmanpreet said the memories of that campaign continue to motivate the squad as they prepare for the Champions Trophy. She framed the upcoming event as a chance to draw on that experience while returning to familiar conditions for the February tournament. "Whenever we talk about winning the ODI World Cup, not just me but all the players still get goosebumps because that was the biggest achievement for us. The Champions Trophy is also in Mumbai, and hopefully, we will repeat the same history, create the same moment and play with the same mindset," the World Cup-winning captain told the media during an Omaxe Estates event on Saturday.
Speaking about home form specifically, Harmanpreet pointed to the team's past results in Mumbai as a reason for optimism. "Whenever we have played in Mumbai, we have always done well. Hopefully, this time too, when we get the opportunity, we will do our best," she added.
India face a multi-format tour of South Africa in December that the team view as an important preparatory assignment. The visitors will play one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is on that tour, which Harmanpreet said should help build momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy. "The Champions Trophy is a very big tournament for all of us. I am sure the South Africa tour before that will help us prepare well. Hopefully, we will carry a lot of confidence from there and perform well in the Champions Trophy," she said.
The former India captain also highlighted the role of the Women's Premier League in familiarising players with venues to be used for the Champions Trophy. She noted WPL matches are scheduled at sites that overlap with the tournament and said that exposure would benefit the national side. "The WPL is a platform that has always given us a lot of confidence," she said. "It is great that before the Champions Trophy, we will get to play in a very good tournament at the same venues. We will be playing in Baroda and Brabourne, and then in Mumbai for the Champions Trophy. I think that will also give us a lot of confidence going into the tournament."
The inaugural six-team Women's Champions Trophy will be contested in the T20I format in Mumbai and Vadodara from February 14 to 28, 2027.
