T20 World Cup: Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the upcoming season of the Women’s Premier League will play a crucial role in India’s quest for a maiden T20 World Cup title, as the women’s team heads into 2026 after ending their long wait for a ODI World Cup crown.
Pathan feels that playing in the WPL will give Indian players the game time and confidence they need ahead of the ICC tournament.
"Girls now play a lot more cricket, and that depth gives the team plenty of options, especially if injuries crop up, because you have ready-made backups. This current pool of players is something you simply didn’t see ten years ago,' Pathan said on JioStar.
"The biggest advantage is that the WPL comes right before the World Cup, so they go in with both game time and confidence. Winning a World Cup in one format and then shifting to another is not a big hurdle anymore, particularly with how much their power game has improved. If they adapt quickly to conditions in England, it really should not be very difficult for them,” he added.
Former India pacer Varun Aaron said that India's breakthrough ODI World Cup win had removed a long-standing psychological barrier and instilled belief within the squad.
"The biggest advantage is that the WPL comes right before the World Cup, so they go in with both game time and confidence. Winning a World Cup in one format and then shifting to another is not a big hurdle anymore, particularly with how much their power game has improved. If they adapt quickly to conditions in England, it really should not be very difficult for them,” he added.
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“There is a lot of momentum around the team right now. The support from fans and the BCCI gives them a great chance to finally win a T20 World Cup, although Australia will definitely be hungry for revenge,” Aaron noted.