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T20 World Cup: While the frenzy around IPL 2026 has caught everyone’s attention in India, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team quietly kickstarted their preparations in Durban for the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa, set to begin on April 17.

This series serves as a vital dress rehearsal for India ahead of the tenth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in England from June 12 to July 5. Though India has a bilateral series against England before the mega event begins, the stakes are particularly high given that South Africa are placed in their group for the mega event.

India enters the series with momentum in the shortest format. Despite losing the one-off Test and ODI series on their multi-format tour of Australia, Harmanpreet & Co had something to cheer about by winning the T20I series 2-1. Former India captain Anjum Chopra spoke exclusively to IANS on the upcoming series, India’s fast-bowling make-up, Shreyanka Patil, no wrist spinner being picked and more. Excerpts: -