Highlights:
- Harmanpreet Kaur says India's Women's ODI World Cup victory still gives the players goosebumps.
- Vadodara and Mumbai will host the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy from February 14, 2027.
- India will tour South Africa in December for one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is.
- Harmanpreet believes the South Africa tour will help India build confidence ahead of the tournament.
- The upcoming WPL season at Baroda and Brabourne could give players valuable familiarity with the Champions Trophy venues.
The memories of India's historic Women's ODI World Cup triumph continue to give Harmanpreet Kaur goosebumps. The former India captain now hopes the team can recreate that historic feeling when it hosts the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy next year.
Vadodara and Mumbai will host the first-ever Women's Champions Trophy from February 14, 2027, giving the Indian team another opportunity to compete for a major international title on home soil.
For Harmanpreet, the World Cup victory remains one of the biggest achievements of her career. She said the emotional impact of the triumph continues to resonate with the players, even as they prepare for the next major challenge.
"Whenever we talk about winning the ODI World Cup, not just me but all the players still get goosebumps because that was the biggest achievement for us. The Champions Trophy is also in Mumbai, and hopefully, we will repeat the same history, create the same moment and play with the same mindset," the World Cup-winning captain told the media during an Omaxe Estates event in New Delhi on Saturday.
The prospect of playing in Mumbai has also given the former captain additional reason to be optimistic. Harmanpreet pointed to India's previous performances in the city and expressed hope that the team would make the most of the opportunity.
"Whenever we have played in Mumbai, we have always done well. Hopefully, this time too, when we get the opportunity, we will do our best," she added.
South Africa tour to help India prepare
India's preparations for the Champions Trophy will include a multi-format tour of South Africa in December. The team is scheduled to play one Test, three One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals during the tour.
Harmanpreet believes the series will provide valuable preparation ahead of the home tournament. The matches will give India an opportunity to build confidence and carry that momentum into the Champions Trophy.
"The Champions Trophy is a very big tournament for all of us. I am sure the South Africa tour before that will help us prepare well. Hopefully, we will carry a lot of confidence from there and perform well in the Champions Trophy," she said.
The tour will therefore form an important part of India's build-up to the competition, with the team looking to arrive at the tournament in strong form.
WPL could provide another advantage
Harmanpreet also highlighted the benefits of playing the upcoming Women's Premier League season at venues that will be used for the Champions Trophy.
She described the WPL as an important platform for building confidence and said the opportunity to play at familiar grounds before the international tournament could work in India's favor.
"The WPL is a platform that has always given us a lot of confidence," she said.
"It is great that before the Champions Trophy, we will get to play in a very good tournament at the same venues. We will be playing in Baroda and Brabourne, and then in Mumbai for the Champions Trophy. I think that will also give us a lot of confidence going into the tournament."
With the South Africa tour and the WPL preceding the Champions Trophy, India will have opportunities to build match readiness before the competition begins.
For Harmanpreet, the objective is clear: carry forward the belief and mindset that helped India achieve World Cup glory and turn the home Champions Trophy into another memorable chapter for Indian women's cricket.
