It is a historic day for women’s cricket in India as captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been included in BBC’s list of the 100 inspiring and influential women from across the globe for the year 2023. Kaur is no doubt one of the best athletes that India has produced. Her skill level and dedication to the game are unmatched which is what makes her a prolific player and an important cog in the Indian team.
She made her debut in 2009 but was able to make a mark for herself only in 2013. Since then her career graph has skyrocketed. She has amassed 6585 runs and taken 72 wickets in 285 international games. A notable innings by her is her unbeaten 171 against Australia in the semi-final of the 2017 World Cup. The innings remains one of the highest individual scores in a Women’s World Cup knockout match and etched her name in the history books forever. Another impressive innings was her unbeaten 107 versus England in the 2013 World Cup. Her knock was sensational and earned her praise from the opposing captain Charlotte Edwards.
Yet another feather to Captain Harmanpreet's cap 🧢 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Bxl0BSQQHY
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 22, 2023
Kaur is also a pathbreaker. She was the first Indian cricketer to sign a Big Bash League contract and in 2017 became the first Indian to participate in ECB’s Kia Super League. She was also the first Indian to be named WBBL Player of the Tournament on account of her exceptional performance with the bat and ball. Her achievements exist even beyond the field. She is a great advocate for women in sports and has worked towards creating awareness and opportunities for women cricketers. Her commitment to the game also involves mentoring and supporting young talent to further the growth of women’s cricket.
She is also one of the best captains that Indian cricket has seen. She has led India in 100 T20Is, the most by any Indian captain. She has also captained the team to a Commonwealth Games Silver Medal and a historic gold at the Asian Games. She also led the Mumbai Indians to victory in the inaugural season of the WPL.
Harmanpreet Kaur highly deserves this honor. She is one of the best players to have graced the field and as a captain has led India to many glorious victories. Her commitment and perseverance are also an inspiration to many.
Vaishnavi is a passionate author with an unwavering love for cricket, particularly women’s cricket. Her writing reflects her deep admiration for the sport and her dedication to promoting women’s participation in it. When she’s not following the latest cricket matches, Vaishnavi can be found engrossed in books or enjoying movies.