Alyssa Healy eyes back-to-back World Cup glory and 2026 India series

NEW DELHI: Australia women’s team captain Alyssa Healy has confirmed she won’t be retiring after the upcoming ODI World Cup, revealing that her recent battles with injury have only intensified her desire to keep playing — at least until Australia’s home series against India in 2026.The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has dealt with a series of injuries over the past year, beginning with a stress fracture in her foot during the T20 World Cup, followed by a knee issue that forced her to miss several matches.Healy, who has previously joked about the idea of retirement, admitted she once considered stepping away from the game after this year’s ODI World Cup in India. But her mindset has shifted since."It's (retirement date) probably shifted a little bit. It's (injuries have) made me realise that I still want to do a little bit more than maybe what I thought," Healy told the Australian Associated Press (AAP).Despite limited appearances during Australia’s Ashes win at home, Healy missed tours to New Zealand and the Women’s Premier League in India, prompting her to reassess her priorities."At the same time, sometimes there's stuff in life that are a little bit more important than pulling on the green and gold. So it's just a constant reassess."But at the moment I definitely want to play a home summer. I want to bring the World Cup home, but also to play against India (in 2026 at home),” she added.Healy is expected to return to competitive action in August when Australia A takes on India A in Queensland.Australia — the most successful team in women's cricket history — are aiming to become the first side in almost four decades to win consecutive ODI World Cups, a challenge that continues to drive Healy’s ambition."According to science, the ODI World Cups is one of the heaviest loads that we go through as cricketers. My aim is to play every game of that World Cup. So, to make sure I can do that is important."The captain also explained that guiding her squad to a title-winning level has long been a personal goal."That was one of my goals, putting a timeline on it and saying this is where I could take this group, even not knowing what I was going to do personally," Healy said."It definitely was a big focus of mine, to get the group to a place to compete at this World Cup, and win the trophy.""It's not so much about the captaincy, or ticking one more box (at a personal level). It's just that I want to win a World Cup for Australia, and no one has gone back-to-back, which is a real motivator.""That was a big focus of mine — to get this group into a place where it can not just compete but win.""It's not about ticking a personal box or just the captaincy. I want to win a World Cup for Australia. No team has gone back-to-back — and that’s a real motivator," she added.