WPL 2026 a launchpad for World Cup dream, says Smriti Mandhana

Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Smriti Mandhana has underlined the growing significance of the Women’s Premier League, stating that standout performance in the upcoming season could fast-track young players into contention for India’s T20 World Cup squad later this year.

Speaking ahead of the new WPL campaign at a joint pre-match media interaction with Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Mandhana stressed that the league has evolved into a critical talent pipeline for Indian women’s cricket, especially with a major ICC event approaching.

Mandhana made it clear that exceptional seasons rarely go unnoticed by the selectors. According to her, players who consistently deliver under pressure in the T20 format put themselves firmly in the conversation for selection.

“If there is an exciting talent and someone has an extraordinary season, I am sure there will be a place in the T20 World Cup as well,” Mandhana said

However, the Indian opener also acknowledged that performance alone does not guarantee a spot, noting that team balance, roles, and combinations remain key considerations. Even so, she reiterated that sustained displays in the WPL significantly strengthen a player’s case.

“She (Harmanpreet) will second that. But again, it depends on where she will fit. The doors are never closed, and if you actually have a good WPL, especially in the T20 format, you always have a chance, particularly with the T20 World Cup coming up,” Mandhana said.

Mandhana further highlighted how the competition continues to push Indian players beyond their comfort zones, helping bridge the gap between domestic cricket and the international stage.

“Whenever we play for India, we always discuss how we want to be the best team in the world. Not for one or two tournaments, but for the whole year. Every WPL is just getting us closer to that,” she said.

Echoing those sentiments, Harmanpreet Kaur said the Indian team’s ambitions now extend beyond isolated success. The focus, she explained, is on sustained excellence across tournaments and formats, with a winning mindset becoming ingrained throughout the squad.

“We are not satisfied with just one World Cup. We have so much cricket coming up, and every time we go to the field, we want to go with the best mindset — that winning mindset”, Harmanpreet said.

Harmanpreet added that it was encouraging to see younger players adopting the same championship-driven outlook, a shift she credits largely to the competitive environment created by the IPL.

“It is good to see that not only us, but other players are also speaking about how we want to be champions all the time. That shows WPL has made a lot of impact,” Harmanpreet said.

With the Women’s T20 World Cup drawing closer, the upcoming WPL season is expected to be closely monitored by selectors. For India’s emerging talents, the tournament represents more than just a domestic league-it is a direct audition for the world’s biggest stage.