India captain Harmanpreet Kaur says the key to handling high expectations ahead of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup is to focus on preparation and not let outside pressure disrupt the team's process.

India enters the tournament in England and Wales following their historic ODI World Cup win at home in 2025. Now they are chasing their first T20 World Cup title. Their campaign begins against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 14.

Harmanpreet said increased expectations reflect the growing popularity of women's cricket.

"With success comes more expectations, but I see that as a positive sign for women's cricket. It shows people are emotionally invested and following our journey closely.

"I try not to think about outside pressure. My focus remains on preparation, contributing to the team, and staying present. Expectations will always exist at this level, and the key is to not let them distract you from your process.

"It is encouraging to see more fans engaging with women's cricket now. Growing support motivates us to keep improving and performing consistently."

Harmanpreet said the preparatory camp in Bengaluru focused on fitness, match simulations, game awareness, handling pressure, and role clarity.

"The camp was very structured and focused on multiple aspects of readiness for the T20 World Cup. Along with skill-based training, there was a strong emphasis on fitness, match simulations, game awareness, and handling pressure situations.

"We also worked a lot on role clarity, which is extremely important in T20 cricket because situations change very quickly.

"Camps like these help build rhythm and confidence as a group before a major tournament, and allow younger players to spend more time with experienced players in a competitive environment."

Harmanpreet also discussed her evolving batting approach, which has helped her score at a strike rate of 132.3 in T20Is this year – the highest of her career in a calendar year.

She credited discussions with head coach Amol Muzumdar and a greater emphasis on intent and decision-making for the change.

"Modern T20 cricket is constantly evolving, and as players, we also need to evolve. The idea behind becoming more aggressive was not about changing my natural game completely, but about being more proactive and taking calculated risks earlier when the situation allows.

"Many discussions with coaches, including Amol sir, helped identify areas where I could put more pressure on bowlers and improve scoring options.

"Once you trust your preparation and decision-making, you can play with more freedom and confidence."

India faces a tough group featuring Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Harmanpreet hopes the team's focus on preparation, role clarity, and process will help India capture the one major white-ball trophy that has so far eluded them.