In a touching display of leadership and humility, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur created a heartwarming moment at the end of India’s thrilling 13-run victory over England Women in the ODI series decider. With this win, India sealed the three-match ODI series 2-1 on English soil—an achievement marked not only by cricketing excellence but also by a powerful gesture of recognition after lifting the historic T20I series.
After smashing a sublime 102 off 84 balls to anchor India’s total of 318, Kaur was deservedly named both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series. However, when presented with the award, she chose not to bask in the spotlight alone. Instead, she turned the moment into one of shared glory—handing over the Player of the Match award and the match ball to rising fast bowling sensation Kranti Goud, who had earlier blown away England’s batting lineup with sensational figures of 6 for 52 in 9.5 overs—a spell that decisively swung the match in India’s favour.
In a video shared by BCCI that quickly captured hearts across the cricketing world, Kaur was seen handing over the award and the match ball, saying:
“She deserves to share this. And also the ball with which Kranti took 6 wickets—and the trophy too.”
On the match ball, Kaur penned a heartfelt message:
“Dear Kranti, you are a star — 6/52 in 9.5 overs.”
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Speaking in that visual, Kaur lauded Kranti’s performance with deep admiration:
“She held her best spell of her career, and I think it’s a great achievement—not just for her, but for Indian cricket. For the team, and especially for our pace attack—we’ve been waiting and hoping for performances like this. The way she brought her experience from the WPL and domestic cricket into this series, and executed under pressure, it was just brilliant.”
Kaur, who also crossed the 4000-run milestone in ODIs, continues to inspire not just with the bat but with her unwavering belief in her teammates. Her gesture towards Kranti Goud stands as a beautiful reminder that cricket is not just a game of statistics—it is a game of spirit, recognition, and team unity.
This series has been a statement of intent from India Women ahead of the highly anticipated three-match ODI series against Australia Women and the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. With seasoned performers stepping up and young talents like Kranti Goud delivering match-winning performances, the team looks well-poised and balanced as they build momentum toward global glory.
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