Ananya Lohia , England - India captain Harmanpreet Kaur delivered a sharp response to retirement speculation ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup, making it clear that she has no plans to step away from international cricket anytime soon.

During the ICC Captains' Day interaction on Sunday, Harmanpreet was asked whether the upcoming World Cup would be her final appearance at the global tournament. The veteran batter quickly turned the question back on the reporter, asking, “Why?” When the journalist insisted he was “just checking,” Harmanpreet replied with a smile, “You think I should stop?” before adding, “Then why are you asking?” The exchange drew laughter and highlighted the 37-year-old’s confidence as she prepares to lead India in another major ICC event.

India will begin its Women’s T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14, while the tournament opens on June 12 with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka. Despite a recent T20 international series defeat against England, Harmanpreet remains optimistic about India’s preparations. She said the team management is largely settled on its preferred playing XI but will use the remaining warm-up matches to assess options, including players such as Radha Yadav and Bharti Fulmali. India are scheduled to play warm-up matches against the West Indies and England before the tournament begins.

Harmanpreet heads into the World Cup in historic fashion. During the third T20 international against England, she became the most-capped player in women’s international cricket, surpassing New Zealand star Suzie Bates. The milestone further underlined her longevity and importance to Indian cricket as she gears up for yet another World Cup challenge.