Rampant yet classy, aggressive yet elegant. The Hitwoman of Indian cricket and a captain you just cannot write off! Kaur is certainly the new age warrior with all swords being her bat!
INTRODUCTION
Captain of Women’s Indian Cricket Team, holder of the prestigious Arjuna Award, Harmanpreet Kaur idol for many budding cricketers. The Moga star, born on 8th March 1989 in Punjab, is a cricketer who holds plenty of records by her name.
Harmanpreet Kaur ( real name Jhanavi Kaur Bhullar) is a right-hand batter and a right arm off-spinner. She is known for her ability to power hit and crush the opposition with her destructive batting style. She made her ODI debut on March 7, 2009, against the arch-rivals Pakistan and since then she has been a crucial part of the Indian side. She is known for her extraordinary all-round performance. Spectators enjoy her batting as she holds the rare talent of hitting sixes out of the park. Maybe that’s the reason why she inspires Virender Sehwag the most. It is interesting to know that she even had a poster of him hung on the wall of her house.
EARLY LIFE
Harmanpreet Kaur was born in Moga, Punjab. Born in a sport- supportive family, she was also keen to be a sportsperson since childhood. Her father was a volleyball and basketball player, he never pulled her daughter from playing.
She practiced in Gyan Jyoti School Academy which was 30kms away from her place. Her father was her first coach. She even changed her school in 11th class so that she could devote enough time to cricket and practice hard there.
She used to practice a lot of sixes in her local ground and the coach didn’t let her take off until she would hit enough sixes out off the ground. She started developing her aggressive game since then. Her father was an aggressive batter which made her an aggressive batter too. She believes in dominating the game by hitting big shots. She holds a unique combination of patience and aggression which makes her a special player altogether.
During her initial years of cricket she wasn’t selected in the age group cricket in cricket, but not giving up and working hard constantly made her what she is today.
PERSONAL LIFE
The batting sensation, Kaur, loves dancing on Punjabi tracks and playing play station during her free time. She loves hanging out with her friends. She has a tattoo on her right hand too.
DOMESTIC CRICKET
Harmanpreet Kaur started playing domestic cricket by representing Punjab Cricket Board. Later she started playing for Railways Team in the domestic circuit.
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
She holds the record of being the first Indian cricketer for India to play 100 international matches in both men’s and women’s cricket. She was the first woman to score a century in Women’s T20 International match, which adds another feather to her cap.
She made her ODI debut on 7th March, 2009 v Pakistan at the age of twenty in 2009 women’s world cup game which was played in Bradman, Oval. She bowled 4 overs in that match and conceded 10 runs taking one wicket as well. She made her T20 debut in June 2009 against England at county ground, Taunton in the ICC World T20 game. She scored 8 runs off 7 balls in that game.
With her devastating 171 not out in a World Cup Crucial game against England, she has grabbed a lot of attention from viewers all around the globe. That innings had actually given a boost/ push to the women’s cricket and was a game-changer for the sport in the country too. Prior to that innings, people barely followed women’s cricket but post that match the story was totally contrary.
She is an impactful player as she holds many runs and wickets by her name. By scoring 2372 runs in One Day International and 2038 in twenty20 international which includes 4 centuries and 17 half-centuries combining both the formats. Her best figures in balling include 2/16 in ODI’s and 4/23 in t20’s. It is interesting to know that she was a medium pacer before.
Not only in Indian pitches, the Moga girl has been influential and crowd puller in Big Bash league also which is held in Australia. She was recognized as the player of the tournament in her debut BBL season. In 2016, she played for Sydney Thunders and in 2018, she represented Supernovas.
FORBES INDIA
Kaur was ranked 91st position in Forbes India. The ranks are based on an aggregate of the estimated earnings and their calculative fame quotient via print and social reach. With her imperious batting, she had given women’s cricket a new face and character.
