Recent success buoys Harmanpreet ahead of Asian challenge
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is confident her team will do well in the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE and the Asian Games in Japan.
ICC Women's Cricket World Cup champions India will be in action over the next few weeks, with the Asia Cup in the UAE and the Asian Games in Japan lined up before them.
Ahead of these important tournaments, India's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has strong belief in her side's ability to ace these challenges.
"The last 4-5 years have been good, and where we have played good cricket, dominating cricket, have defeated big sides and won series also," Kaur told Sony Sports.
Besides their maiden ICC title last year in the form of the Women's Cricket World Cup, India won the T20I and ODI series in England in 2025. They also secured a historic victory at Lord's in July, winning the first-ever women's Test played at the venue.
Kaur backed India to continue in the same vein in UAE and Japan.
"Of course, we expect to win. Our team has been playing very good cricket," Harmpreet noted.
"Now, we are coming after the win at Lord's and have also won many games on the trot, so the team has already tasted success and will be hungry for more."
India have historically been the strongest team in Asia, but have faced a mounting challenge of late. Chamari Athapaththu's Sri Lanka stunned Kaur's team in 2024 to claim the honours at the Asia Cup that year.
Harmanpreet Kaur shifts gears at the death | Women's T20WC 2026
Harmanpreet Kaur goes on the attack in the death overs against Australia at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Kaur was confident that India were ready to reclaim the trophy.
"Everybody in the team talks about how to win a match. How to win tournaments. So when you have that kind of culture, you always feel motivated and you really look forward to go for any tournament," Harmanpreet said.
"So this tournament (Asia Cup) is very important and we will play as a team and once again will make our country proud."
India are in the same group as arch-rivals Pakistan, and Harmanpreet expects a high-octane face-off.
"No doubt it's a high-pressure game and as a player you need to deal with multiple things. We keep playing international cricket but the amount of pressure in a India v Pakistan match, that kind of pressure you don't feel anywhere else."
Indian women's cricket team made their Asian Games debut in Hangzhou and won the gold medal. Chasing a repeat, Harmanpreet was motivated to win a medal.
A photo to remember for the champions | CWC25
Indian players pose with the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 trophy after their final win over South Africa.
"This is one such moment when you get your own medal and I think when it's about the medals, the motivation increases even more. Day and night we keep thinking how we will feel after winning the medal and how we will celebrate," she added.
Reflecting the pressure and expectations from the Asian Games, Harmanpreet acknowledged that the side was aware of the challenge before them.
"The last time we had played very dominating cricket and one-sided contests so there will be expectations from us to play that kind of cricket again," Harmanpreet said.
"I'm sure the country is looking forward to that one gold medal coming from cricket, so I know the pressure is going to be there, but at the same time focussing on your job and how to achieve that job is more important."