Breaking boundaries: Harmanpreet Kaur

Today’s article by ZAP cricket is about a cricketer who rose women’s cricket to greater heights. When she started playing cricket, people barely knew about the women's team. But now, because of her, the game has gained a lot of attention. During her struggling days, selectors told her to quit the game as they thought she wasn’t ‘good enough’. But she decided to prove them wrong. Ultimately, it was her grit and determination that made her one of the finest players in the world. We are talking about the captain of Women’s Indian Cricket Team- Harmanpreet Kaur.

Early Life and domestic cricket of Harmanpreet Kaur 

Harmanpreet was born on 8 March, 1989. She used to train at Gian Jyoti School Academy, under coach Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi. Her academy was 30 kms away from her residence, that’s when all the toiling started.

Her father, Harmandar Bhullar used to play Volleyball and Basketball. He played a great influence in Harmanpreet’s sporting journey as he was her first coach as well. Her idol was Virender Sehwag and that’s how she picked the inspiration of hitting huge sixes. She used to practice range hitting everyday to become like her idol.

Kaur played domestic cricket for Punjab. She didn’t get to play a lot of junior level cricket there. In 2014, she joined Indian Railways through sports quota and played for them as well.

International career of Harmanpreet Kaur

Kaur made her ODI debut on 7 March 2009, T20 debut on 11 June 2009 and Test debut on 13 August, 2014. During her initial years, when senior players like Mithali Raj, Anjum Chopra etc, used to be the anchors of the team, Harman made sure that she contributed significantly as well. Now, as she herself has turned into the senior most, her 15 years of experience is coming handy. After the retirement of Mithali Raj, it was her who ensured the growth of women's cricket in India.

Harman believes in playing attacking cricket. One of the traits that make her different from the rest of the girls is her ability to clear the fence conveniently. She can hit huge sixes, bowl tight overs and do lightning fast fielding. Hence, she is a complete all rounder and certainly one of the best players produced by India. 

Following are her major achievements so far: 

• Only Indian woman cricketer to score more than 3,000 runs in Women’s ODI
• First Indian cricketer to play in 100 T20Is
• Arjuna award in 2017 
• Asia cup winner in 2012, 2016 and 2022
• Gold medal in 2022 Asian games 
• Silver medal in 2022 commonwealth games 
• Wisden cricketer of the Year in 2023
• First Indian woman to score a century in T20Is. 

International stats of Harmanpreet Kaur

Top 3 innings of Harmanpreet Kaur

117(115): India vs Australia, semi final- 2017 Women’s World Cup 

Kaur’s finest and the most memorable innings came at Derby on 20th July, 2017. It was that innings when things completely changed for women’s cricket in India. Before that, people rarely followed the women's side of the game. But that innings played a massive impact in gaining public attention. In that innings, she smashed the ball all over the park and secured a win for India. She made sure that her team played the final of the 2017 World Cup. Her knock impressed everyone in the world and people started acknowledging her skill back home as well.

103(51): India vs New Zealand, league match- 2018 Women’s World Cup 

She came to bat at number 5 and still managed to hit a century, that too, against one of the finest teams in the world. Such is the demeanor of GOAT- Harmanpreet Kaur. She scored 103 off 51 balls and smashed eight sixes and seven fours. After that innings she became the first Indian woman to score a century in T20Is. 

65(43): India vs Australia, final- 2022 Commonwealth Games

Kaur announced herself in the Commonwealth Games 2022 by scoring a skilful yet powerful knock of 65 off 43 balls at Edgbaston. She led from the front as she played that knock in the most crucial match- The finals. However, despite her contribution, team India lost the match by barest of margins. In the end, the women in blue grabbed the silver medal. Her resilient knock included seven fours and two sixes.

Harmanpreet Kaur in franchise cricket 

Kaur is a regular player in franchise cricket as well. She plays in various leagues in different parts of the world. In WBBL, she played for Sydney Thunder from 2016 till 2019. Then, in 2021, she signed with Melbourne Renegades and since then she is associated with that team only. Her record has been impressive there as well. She was player of the tournament in the 2021-22 season. Because of her game there, Australians highly regard the Indian skipper for her aggressive style of playing. 

In WPL, she is the captain of Mumbai Indians. The inaugural season went really well for her as she was the winner in the first season. Her leadership skills were highly appreciated as she led the bunch well. 

Lastly, In The hundred, she played for Manchester Originals in 2021 and for Trent Rockets from 2023. 

Her stats in different leagues is as follows: