“ India Are Aiming To Win The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, There Is Added Pressure On Them ”: Aakash Chopra
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The BCCI announced India’s squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be played between June 12 and July 5 in England and Wales. Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Follow the Blues’, experts Aakash Chopra, Veda Krishnamurthy, and Reema Malhotra analysed the squad, spoke about Radha Yadav’s comeback, and discussed the high-octane India–Pakistan match.
Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Follow the Blues’, JioStar expert Aakash Chopra hailed the all-round strength of the Indian squad:
“You will find a lot of all-rounders there. This is the speciality of this team, almost every player brings more than one skill set. We saw Shafali bowling, taking wickets and contributing to the World Cup win. The only question was who would bat at No. 7, and Bharti Fulmali can smash the ball. Radha’s best came when she batted a little higher up the order for RCB. It was a pleasant surprise to see her scoring runs at No. 4 or 5 and contributing with the ball. When you look at the bigger picture, I was going through the numbers from the South Africa series. The spinners ruled the roost, whether it was Deepti, Shree Charani or Shreyanka Patil. But there weren’t many wickets for the faster bowlers. So, there is a question mark on their contribution, and they will have to find answers to that.”
On the India-Pakistan match clash and the English conditions:
“It’s England, so just assume that rain will play a role in the tournament. When that happens, you really don’t want to take your foot off the accelerator at any point. The weight of expectations is on India and not Pakistan, if we talk about that contest, because Pakistan have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They have the liberty, whereas India are always under pressure, thinking they cannot afford to lose, especially because they are the stronger side. Since India are aiming to win the trophy, there is added pressure on them. Every game you can win, you should win with a margin, because England, as a host nation, brings a different dynamic to the contest. You have to factor in things like DLS, net run-rate, and even the possibility of a three-way tie in a six-team group.”
Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Follow the Blues’, JioStar expert Veda Krishnamurthy praised the selectors for backing Radha Yadav after her performances in the TATA WPL and in domestic cricket:
“Whatever players I was looking forward to seeing in the squad are there. I am impressed that they have gone back to Radha and rewarded what she has done in domestic cricket. When a player is trying to make a comeback, they put in a lot of effort in domestic cricket, but it often goes unacknowledged. You are quick to move on and look at younger players. This will be Radha’s fifth T20 World Cup, and that experience will definitely help. So, a big thumbs up to the Chief Selector Amita Sharma and Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who explained the reasoning behind every selection. We got clear answers on everything, including the injuries of Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee, otherwise we are just left assuming things.”
Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Follow the Blues’, JioStar expert Reema Malhotra weighed in on Nandni Sharma’s maiden national call-up:
“When you go to England, the role of medium pacers becomes more important. If you have a bowler with good slower balls, the ability to bowl at the death, and a gutsy mindset, Nandni Sharma fits the bill. She didn’t play at the start of the WPL, but the moment she was brought into the XI by Delhi Capitals, she took a hat-trick. She comes from the school of my Coach, Sukhwinder Bawa, who builds mental strength in players. Bawa sir always says this about Nandni; she is a strong-headed player. She bowls according to the match situation. She can bowl with the new ball, and she also knows when to use her slower deliveries; she reads those situations very well. So, a well-deserved call-up.”
Catch all the action from ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, June 12-July 5, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
