India batter Jemimah Rodrigues says the team's ICC Women's ODI World Cup triumph last year has become the defining fuel for their upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign, describing the hunger to win again as 'like an addiction.' India head into the tournament — scheduled from 12 June to 5 July in England — as defending ODI world champions, carrying a momentum that the squad is determined to convert into T20 glory.

The Winning Mindset

Speaking in a video posted on the BCCI Women's X account on Friday, Jemimah articulated the psychological shift that a World Cup win brings. 'The team is very charged up. I think what has happened again with that World Cup is that it's empowered us to be more motivated to do well. You win one, it's like, it's a little negative word, but it's like an addiction,' she said.

'Like, you want to win another one. It pushes you more, and I think this group is showing that so much. Like, right from the time we started again, they've had that, nahi aur ek jeetna hai,' Jemimah added, capturing the dressing room's collective resolve.

Harmanpreet's Huddle Rallying Cry

Jemimah also revealed how captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been channelling the memory of last year's ODI win to sharpen focus during the recent Australia series. 'Even a lot of time during our Australia series, Harry did in the huddle, she'll tell us, you remember that feeling? How did that feel? We want to do it again. Let's play for that feeling, and that's how we used to enter the ground. So I think that has given us a lot of motivation to get better,' she said.

Notably, India will be looking to significantly improve on their group stage exit from the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup — making the squad's hunger all the more pointed.

India's T20 World Cup Campaign

India are placed in Group A and open their campaign on 14 June against arch-rivals Pakistan. They will also face Australia, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and South Africa in the group stage. Before departing for England, the side will play a preparatory three-match T20I series against England, beginning 28 May.

Jemimah and Gavaskar: A Bond Renewed

Off the field, Jemimah shared a warm personal moment ahead of the tour, posting a video on Instagram about reuniting with batting legend Sunil Gavaskar for another singing and guitar collaboration — a bond that first captured public attention during India's Women's ODI World Cup-winning campaign in 2025. Jemimah captioned the post: 'Promise Kept. Sunil sir has my heart. Thank you for being the man you are. A real legend.'

With defending ODI champions now chasing T20 silverware, India's campaign in England shapes up as one of the most anticipated storylines of the women's cricket calendar this summer.