WPL 2026 a springboard for World Cup dream, says Smriti Mandhana | CricTracker

Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Smriti Mandhana has underlined the growing importance of the Women’s Premier League, saying that excellent performances in the upcoming season could quickly put young players in contention for India’s T20 World Cup squad later this year.

Ahead of the new WPL campaign during a joint pre-match media interaction with Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Mandhana emphasized that the league has evolved into a crucial 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 perform under pressure in the T20 format have 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 important considerations. Still, she reiterated that sustained displays in the WPL significantly strengthen a player’s case.

“She (Harmanpreet) will support 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, especially with the T20 World Cup coming up,” Mandhana said.

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

“Every time 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 entire year. Every WPL only brings us closer to that,” she said.

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

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

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

“It’s good to see that not only us but other players are constantly talking about how we want to become champions. That shows that WPL has made a lot of impact,” said Harmanpreet.

As the Women’s T20 World Cup approaches, the upcoming WPL season is expected to be closely watched by selectors. For India’s emerging talents, the tournament represents more than just a domestic competition: it is a direct audition for the world’s biggest stage.