'Why are you asking?': Harmanpreet Kaur left fuming at reporter asking if she’ll retire after T20 World Cup 2026

India’s ODI World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur was left perplexed and fuming by a reporter’s question at the captain’s day ahead of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. During the interaction, a reporter asked whether the upcoming ICC tournament will be her last. The question didn’t please Harmanpreet as she asked the reporter whether she should retire. As the reporter said she shouldn’t, the skipper wondered why the question was even asked.

Here’s how the awkward exchange went -

Reporter: Is this going to be your last World Cup?
Harmanpreet: Why?
Reporter: Just asking (laughs). Just checking. Glad it's not.
Harmanpreet: You think I should stop?
Reporter: Not at all. Just checking.
Harmanpreet: Then why are you asking?
Reporter: Just asking.

The video of the interaction has gone viral on social media.

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Meanwhile, Harmanpreet-led India will play their first-warm-up game leading up to the T20 World Cup 2026 on June 8. They will go up against West Indies at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. After the series defeat to England, Harmanpreet had said that she wants to give chances to Bharti Fulmali and Radha Yadav. The match may help India try out a few options. Also, Smriti Mandhana will look to regain form after underwhelming outings in the previous T20I series. After facing West Indies, India's second warm-up match is against England at Derby's County Ground.

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Harmanpreet’s recent form

Harmanpreet found form in the previous T20I outing, scoring an unbeaten 56 against England in a losing cause. Before that, he scored a half-century against South Africa as well. In the T20I series against England, he became third woman to complete 4,000 T20I runs. 

Harmanpreet to surpass Mithali 

The 37-year-old needs just one run to surpass former captain Mithali Raj and become India’s leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history. Before India start their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14, Harmanpreet has 726 runs from 33 T20 World Cup innings at an average of 25.03. Her strike rate in the tournament is 112.21. She has a century and four half-centuries to her name.