Smriti Mandhana Keeps T20 World Cup Preparation 'Specifics' Secret: 'Lot Of Hard Work'

Indian women cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on Tuesday said the players are in good shape heading into the T20 World Cup while refusing to get into the preparations specifics for the next month’s 12-team tournament. The 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be held in England and Wales from June 12, with ODI World Cup champions India set to face arch-rivals Pakistan in their tournament opener on June 14.

“The camp has gone well, and I would like to keep it at that. I would not like to say any specifics of what we have worked on because we are heading to a World Cup,” Mandhana said at an event in Mumbai.

“But what I would say is that all the girls are looking in good shape, they have been practising really well and a lot of hard work has

gone behind it,” she added.

The 15-member Indian squad recently completed a training camp at the Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru and will depart for England on May 22 for a three-match T20I series against the hosts ahead of the World Cup.

“We are prepping for the World Cup and we will leave for a series before it. The preparations have been going well and I hope that we keep working hard and make India proud and bring the cup back home,” Mandhana said.

Mandhana, who also interacted with schoolchildren at the event, stressed the importance of making youngsters aware of career opportunities in sports.

“The questions that they ask at that age, I would not (have) known what they are asking. They really want to know what we go through which is extremely nice,” Mandhana said.

“For me it’s very important to give them a message firstly how sports and cricket have a career and you can actually make a career out of it.

“The other important thing for me which I try and tell is to enjoy the process and what they do…I just really want all the kids to enjoy and follow their passion so that’s one message that I give to the young kids,” she added.

With PTI Inputs