Former India batter Veda Krishnamurthy has identified vice-captain Smriti Mandhana as the most critical factor in India's title bid at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, arguing that the left-handed opener's performances in knockout matches will ultimately decide whether India lifts the trophy.

Veda's Case for Mandhana

Veda was unequivocal about the correlation between Mandhana's output and India's results. “When Smriti scores, India wins. So, she knows that it is very important for her to score in those big games. We’ve seen her do well in World Cups. She has done well in England and is one of those batters who scores runs all around the globe,” Veda said in an interview with JioStar.

Mandhana enters the tournament as one of the most experienced and prolific batters in the Indian setup, with a record of performing across conditions and formats. Her ability to set up totals at the top of the order has consistently been tied to India's momentum in high-stakes fixtures.

The Big-Game Imperative

Veda was specific about which matches she believes Mandhana must deliver in. “I hope she does well in all the games, but more importantly, in the big games, against South Africa, against Australia, and hopefully in the semi-final and the final. Because if she scores big in those games, the cup is definitely coming home,” she added.

India are expected to face both South Africa and Australia during the tournament — two of the strongest sides in women's cricket — making Mandhana's form against top-tier opposition a central talking point heading into the event.

Squad Assessment: Best Available Group

Veda's confidence extends beyond any single player. She described the selected squad as the strongest available despite injury-enforced absences affecting a few players. “Definitely the best available squad was picked. Of course, a couple of players missed out because of injury. But apart from that, I cannot put a finger on anyone and say they deserved to be there or would have made a difference to the squad,” she noted.

She also backed the selectors' decision to recall players who had spent extended periods out of the national setup. “It’s a perfectly balanced squad. There have been a couple of comebacks. They were out for a really long time, but the selectors have trusted their experience,” Veda said.

World Cup Triumph Has Shifted the Mindset

A significant part of Veda's optimism stems from what she describes as a transformed team culture following India's recent World Cup victory. She believes the win has instilled a deeper belief across the entire squad — not just in captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

“I think the World Cup victory is going to play a huge part because, after that, not just Harmanpreet, but the entire team, when you talk to them, the positivity and the aura they have been carrying, there is a lot of confidence. They have realised that they are capable of achieving certain things, and that belief is very important when you go into a World Cup,” Veda said.

With the squad bolstered by experience, a recent title to draw on, and Mandhana in form, India head into the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 as credible contenders — and much of their campaign could hinge on how their vice-captain performs when it matters most.