Smriti Mandhana hails WPL as launchpad for Indian dominance

The impact of the WPL is already being felt in the Indian setup, with Smriti Mandhana convinced it is the bridge between talent and trophies, and Harmanpreet Kaur clear that one global title will never be enough for Team India.

WPL mindset shift towards multiple World Cups

Speaking about India’s white-ball ambitions, Harmanpreet made it clear the current core is hungry for sustained success, not a one-off fairytale.

"We are not satisfied with just one World Cup" — Harmanpreet Kaur

Mandhana, India’s vice-captain and one of the faces of the WPL boom, believes the league has already toughened players up in terms of handling pressure, facing overseas stars regularly and adapting to tactical match-ups. For fans, it’s obvious how younger players now walk into international games with far less awe and far more intent.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 firmly marked as the next big target, the WPL’s high-intensity environment is functioning like a domestic IPL-style finishing school for Indian women’s cricket. Batters are learning to clear the ropes consistently, bowlers are getting used to defending in the death, and captains are being forced into high-stakes decisions every other night.

From an Indian perspective, this is the most exciting part: the gap between Australia and the rest has always been about depth and big-match temperament. The WPL is quietly attacking both those deficits at once, giving India a genuine shot at moving from challengers to a truly dominant force over the next cycle.