Never thought I’d get permission to put up a cricketer’s poster in my room : Harmanpreet Kaur

Indian T20 Captain Harmanpreet Kaur joined Indian crickets most celebrated commentator Harsha Bhogle on an episode of ‘Cricbuzz In Conversation.’

Harmanpreet who grew up in Moga, Punjab has drawn many comparisons to the thunderous Virendra Sehwag. Speaking on Sehwag’s influence and her relationship with Sehwag, the skipper recalled her first conversation with Sehwag was after she sent him a text message and he called her back immediately after the message, Kaur said that she had written him a text which read – Sir, I want to talk to you, if you have time please talk and she got a reply almost immediately.

Kaur further explained that the call took her by surprise as she thought that he might not read the message. She also added that Sehwag gave her excellent advice and listened to her patiently. Speaking on the comparisons between her and Sehwag she said that she was so fond of his bating that she would go and try to mimic his style of batting in the nets especially his renowned cut shot.

Kaur also shared a funny story on how she and her brother had a rivalry about their favorite cricketers as kids. Kaur was a big a Sehwag fan and her brother was a Yuvraj fan and whichever sibling’s favorite batsman scored more runs earned the bragging rights and the other sibling would be teased the whole day.

“My parents didn’t allow me to put up a poster too but I did put up one of Sehwag. Now when kids have heard my story, they tell me theirs. I never thought I’d get permission to put up a poster in my room. Now when kids tell me that they have my posters, it sounds like a dream,” Harmanpreet told Harsha Bhogle.

Harmanpreet mentioned that she was never stopped by her father to go and play cricket with the boys despite any societal objections and how she was the only one amongst all the girls and that could hit the ball in the air.

Harmanpreet also spoke about her exhilarating unbeaten knock against defending champions Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final which many consider the greatest One Day International innings in women’s cricket history. Harmanpreet scored a match-winning 171 runs in 115 balls which is the highest score by any Indian in an ICC World Cup event and the highest individual total in a World Cup knockout game.

Runs: 171*
Balls: 115
Fours: 20
Sixes: 7

The Name is: Harmanpreet Kaur#OnThisDay, Harmanpreet’s 171* accounted for more than 60 per cent of India’s runs.#INDvAUS #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Grj0isN1iu

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 20, 2020

Harmanpreet was looking to take advantage of and smash every ball as she was struggling with cramps and was finding it very hard to run between the wickets. So she chose to go for the big hits and scored 20 boundaries and 7 sixes to seal the game.

Relive this har-monstrous knock 😃pic.twitter.com/asdOAkj0Ts

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 20, 2020

“I have played so many international games but the mindset with which I walked out to bat that day was different. I still keep praying to get in that same zone again,” said Kaur.