Kolkata : England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt wants that goosebumps-inducing feeling of winning a World Cup again as her side begins their campaign for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 trophy.
The hosts take on Sri Lanka under the Friday night lights at Edgbaston as the opening game of the tournament gets underway at 6:30pm local time.
Sciver-Brunt is one of three members of the 2026 World Cup squad that were part of the 2017 edition of the Women’s Cricket World Cup triumph on home soil, alongside Heather Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
Like that World Cup nine years ago, this year’s final on 5 July will be held at Lord’s, giving the opportunity for real symmetry.
“Experiencing the final in 2017 was an amazing day and one that, when I get the opportunity to speak about it, gives me goosebumps every time,” Sciver-Brunt said.
“I hope we can recreate the same feelings that we had on that day, but obviously, there is a lot of work to go before we potentially get there.
Consistency, a lot of confidence and recognising the pressure moments and being really composed in them is how to win this tournament.
“That is something we have learnt from all of the tournaments we have been in, all of the big moments. How can you recognise that, firstly, and navigate your way through it.
“We have done a lot of learning with that in the last series, and before that as well, we are ready to start the tournament now.”
England women have never lost a World Cup on home soil, something Sciver-Brunt is well aware of.
She has faced a disrupted build-up to her first T20 World Cup as captain, having missed the series against New Zealand and India, both of which England won 2-1, due to a calf injury.
The skipper, who is expected to play only as a batter, made scores of three and 57 in warm-up matches against Australia and India, respectively.
England came through those games with one loss and one win and now take on the sixth-ranked team, Sri Lanka.
While world number two England may have some advantage as hosts, Sri Lanka hold the upper hand in terms of recent meetings, having beaten England in a T20 series here three years ago.
Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu said: “Cricket is a very funny game, especially the T20 format, so on a particular day, whoever plays the best cricket on the day will win.
“England are hosting this World Cup, and they know these conditions better than everyone, so that is a challenge, but I love that challenge.
“We want to play our fearless cricket this summer. We have good plans for them, we don’t have any pressure because we come with the underdog tag.”
The 36-year-old Athapaththu is one of the legendary players in the twilight of their careers at this tournament, but she has been buoyed by younger talent coming into the Sri Lankan side.
She singled out Kavisha Dilhari and Vishmi Gunaratne for praise as they have bolstered Sri Lanka’s batting ranks in recent times.
“Kavisha is one of our good players in our team, she is a good all-rounder and has been playing well and has done an amazing job for Sri Lanka the last two years,” she said.
“Vishmi is back into the side after injury, she has scored good runs and is in good form. Young Imesha Dulani, she is has also played good cricket, so hopefully they will play their best cricket.”
Sciver-Brunt has already confirmed she will play purely as a batter as she returns to full fitness following a calf concern, while the England skipper also suggested it would be unlikely that the side will use all three of their left-arm spin options – Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith and Tilly Corteen-Coleman – in the same XI.
But where that leaves all-rounders Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson remains unanswered, while there is also plenty to ponder for the England captain at the top of their batting order with Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones, Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley all jostling for positions.
Sciver-Brunt said all will be revealed at the toss at Edgbaston on Friday, but the England captain did note that all members of her squad would likely get the chance to show their wares during the 12-team tournament.
“We have a squad of 15 players, all of whom could be part of our XI,” Sciver-Brunt noted on Thursday at the pre-match press conference.
“Selecting that final XI is hard and there’ll be some disappointed people because everybody so far in the summer has put their hand up with different performances at different times.
“We know that we’ll need to call upon every one of those 15 people during this tournament. It’s not just about the XI. And I suppose that makes for some tough conversations and I’m sure some disappointed people.”
Selection looks somewhat more clearcut for Sri Lanka, with the Asian side looking relatively settled in comparison to the tournament hosts after they quietly impressed during the warm-up fixtures when they finished unbeaten with victories over the Netherlands and Pakistan.
Experienced skipper Chamari Athapaththu will once again be the lynchpin for Sri Lanka against England as the veteran gears up for her 10th appearance at the T20 World Cup having previously featured at every edition of the tournament since its inception in 2009.
And Athapaththu enters the opening contest quietly confident her side can cause an upset, with the Sri Lanka captain embracing the tag of underdogs given all the pressure and focus will be on their opponents.
“The game is very important game for both the teams, but we are coming with underdog tag because we need to earn something,” Athapaththu said.
“But I know England have a little bit pressure because they’re playing in their home condition and first game and with a lot of expectation.
“And most of the England people are coming here for cheering for them.
“I feel some kind of pressure they have. So we don’t have that kind of pressure.
“So we just need to play our fearless cricket. And if we can play our best cricket tomorrow, I know we can change and make — we can make history”, she concluded.
England squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
Sri Lanka squad: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva, Kaveesha Dilhari, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Dassanayaka, Nimasha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya, Chethana Vimukthi.
