India captain snaps back at reporter over retirement question at Women’s T20 WC

Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a slightly heated moment ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup after responding with an awkward smile to a question about her retirement during a media interaction. The veteran batter, who will lead India in another global tournament, was in attendance at the joint captains’ press conference before the competition gets underway.

India will begin their campaign with warm-up matches against West Indies and England as they aim to end their long wait for a T20 World Cup title.

During the press conference, Harmanpreet was asked about her future in the game and whether retirement was on her mind. The India captain responded with a wry smile before turning the question back on the reporter.

“Do you think I should stop?” Harmanpreet asked, prompting laughter in the room.

When the journalist clarified that he was merely checking, Harmanpreet cheekily followed up: “Then, why are you asking then?” Her response drew further laughter from those present and helped lighten the mood during the media session.

BEYOND THE SNAP

Beyond the humorous exchange, Harmanpreet also reflected on the impact of India’s recent success and how it has contributed to the growth of women’s cricket back home. The India skipper highlighted the surge in interest among young girls following the team’s achievements on the global stage.

“We have seen that during last year’s World Cup when we won. After that, we have seen massive change,” she said.

“Many girls, they’re coming to play cricket, and I think when we do well a lot of things change, and hopefully, we play our best cricket and try to make impact on women’s cricket.”

The upcoming tournament is expected to be one of the most competitive editions yet, with traditional powerhouses such as Australia, India, England and New Zealand all in contention. Ireland, meanwhile, return to the competition after missing out in 2024 and arrive with renewed confidence following a period of steady improvement.

India will officially begin their campaign on June 14 against arch rivals Pakistan before playing against tournament debutants Netherlands on June 17. They also have South Africa, Australia and Bangladesh in their group. Only the top two teams will qualify for the semifinals.

– Ends

SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA