Former India captain Anjum Chopra says no team enters the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup as an outright favourite, but argues that India carries a psychological edge that sets it apart — the confidence of arriving as reigning 50-over World Cup champions. Speaking ahead of India's tournament opener, Chopra outlined why the ODI title win in 2025 could prove decisive in how Harmanpreet Kaur's side carries itself through the competition.

India's Confidence Edge

India open their Group 1 campaign against Pakistan at Edgbaston on Sunday, buoyed by last year's ODI World Cup triumph. The side heads into the tournament after a 2-1 series defeat to England and mixed warm-up results — a win over West Indies followed by a loss to England.

'I don't think they will be talking much about the 2024 campaign because after 2024, 2025 happened. What they will be talking about is the good moments and the winning effort that the team puts in. The biggest thing is that they will be walking into this World Cup with the confidence behind them of being a world champion in a 50-over format,' Chopra said.

She was careful to temper expectations, noting India's Women's T20 World Cup record — a semifinal in 2018 and a final appearance in 2020 — reflects a side that has yet to go all the way in the shortest format. 'I won't say that they will start as favourites. But I will also say in the same breath that nobody starts as favourites in this World Cup,' she added.

No Favourites in a 12-Team Field

Chopra pointed to defending champions New Zealand as proof that pre-tournament form means little once the competition begins. New Zealand had lost almost 10 games in the lead-up to the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup before going on to lift the title. 'Come the World Cup, things changed for them and they became world champions,' she noted.

She identified Australia — chasing a seventh title — and South Africa as teams with genuine claims, but maintained that every side carries vulnerabilities. 'Everybody has some area of concern in their lineup — be it Australia, South Africa, India, New Zealand, any and every team,' Chopra said.

This edition marks the first time the tournament has expanded to 12 teams, a development Chopra says fundamentally changes the competitive landscape. 'It's a tough draw — take nothing away from it. Each and every one has earned their place to get into this lineup and space,' she said, urging India not to underestimate any opponent in the group stage.

Zero Margin for Error

Chopra stressed that the expanded format leaves no room for complacency. India will play five league matches, with only two teams from each pool advancing to the semifinals. 'There is no room for making a mistake or complacency. It has to be spot on — it's like hitting bullseye every time you walk out,' she elaborated.

She added that the stakes of each group-stage game are higher than in previous editions precisely because the path to the final is narrower. Any slip, she warned, could end India's campaign before it reaches the knockout rounds.

Women's Game Has Evolved — 200 Is the New Benchmark

Chopra also reflected on how dramatically the women's game has progressed since the tournament's debut in 2009. She pointed to 200-run totals becoming a near-standard expectation in T20 cricket as the clearest sign of that growth. 'Scoring 150-160 — gone are those days. So, that is a growth and progression in the women's game, which as well has been in the men's game,' she observed.

WPL Talent Pipeline and the Need for Patience

The Women's Premier League (WPL) has visibly influenced India's squad, with Bharti Fulmali and Nandni Sharma earning call-ups alongside established WPL products like Shreyanka Patil and N Sree Charani. Chopra acknowledged the league's role in surfacing talent but urged patience with players making the transition to international cricket.

'When it comes to international cricket, I still feel that you need to give a player time. Everybody will not turn out to be like Charani, taking it like a duck to water,' she said, also citing Anushka Sharma, who debuted in T20Is in South Africa in April, as an example of a player stepping up when given the opportunity. 'If they take less time, brilliant. But international cricket does require a little bit of time,' Chopra concluded.

India's first match against Pakistan at Edgbaston will set the tone for a campaign that could, for the first time, end with a Women's T20 World Cup title to go alongside the 50-over crown.