‘Then why are you asking?’ – Harmanpreet Kaur silences reporter for ‘Last World Cup’ query

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur delivered a witty response to a question about her retirement plans ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, leaving the media room in laughter during the ICC Captains’ Day on Sunday.

As captains from all participating teams interacted with the media before the marquee tournament, one reporter asked the veteran Indian skipper whether the upcoming edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup could be her last appearance at the global event.

The 37-year-old, however, was in no mood to entertain retirement talks and turned the question back on the journalist. The exchange quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the media session ahead of the global event.

When the reporter tried to brush off the inquiry by claiming they were ‘just asking, just checking’ over her potential retirement. Harmanpreet pointedly asked, “Do you think I should stop?” The reporter quickly backtracked, assuring her, “Not at all, just asking,” which prompted Harmanpreet to deliver a blunt, definitive final counter: “Then why are you asking?”

Check the video of Harmanpreet’s interaction with reporter here

The light-hearted response sparked laughter across the press room and underlined that Harmanpreet remains fully focused on the challenge ahead rather than discussions about the end of her career.

Fresh from guiding the Indian team to a historic ODI World Cup triumph on home soil in 2025, the Moga-born will now lead the team in its pursuit of a maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title. India begin their campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 14, with expectations surrounding the side at an all-time high.

Despite the growing excitement and pressure from fans and experts, Harmanpreet stressed the importance of staying grounded and not allowing external expectations to affect the team’s preparation.

“With success naturally comes more expectations, but I see that as a positive sign for women’s cricket. It shows that people are emotionally invested in the team and are following our journey closely,” she said.

The Women in Blue will head into the tournament as one of the favourites, with Harmanpreet once again expected to play a crucial role both as captain and senior batter within the setup.