In a series-defining moment at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 15, 2026, Indian women’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur turned mid-off into a launchpad for brilliance, sprinting backwards before diving full-length to pouch a screamer off Ellyse Perry (20 off 11 balls). This athletic grab not only shifted momentum in India’s 21-run DLS victory in the 1st T20I but also earned Kaur the fielding medal of the three-match series, as voted by coach Munish Bali amid a stack of contenders.
Bali, India’s sharp-eyed fielding coach, singled out Kaur’s effort as the standout. Among many other contenders, eventually that catch stood out, as the fielding coach also praised her instincts and execution. Stationed at mid-off, Kaur’s backward run and dive exemplified the grit that propelled India to a historic 2-1 series win, their first T20I series victory against Australia on Australian soil since January 2016. Australia hit back in the 2nd T20I by 19 runs at Manuka Oval, Canberra, on February 19, but India clinched the decider by 17 runs at Adelaide Oval on February 21, grabbing a 4-2 points lead in the ongoing multi-format series (three T20Is, three ODIs, and a one-off pink-ball Test at W.A.C.A., Perth, running until March 9).
India’s fielding was ferocious, snaring 15 catches across the series, seven alone in that rain-affected opener, bolstered by a brilliant stumping from Richa Ghosh. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana dazzled in the 2nd T20I with an excellent grab to dismiss Phoebe Litchfield (6 off 5 balls), while Jemimah Rodrigues stole the show in the finale, diving forward at deep mid-wicket to send back Ashleigh Gardner (57 off 45 balls). Pace spearhead Renuka Singh Thakur chipped in with two catches, and her improved cross-over throws, turning the outfield into a no-man’s-land for Australia.
Munish Bali reserved special words for young Shree Charani, whose catching sharpened noticeably. “Well done, keep working hard, you will get better and better,” he urged, highlighting the depth in this Indian unit.
Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front beyond the field, too, smashing 38 runs at a strike-rate of 111.76 (average 38) across her two innings, proof of her all-round captaincy in this farewell series for Australian skipper and wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy. Healy announced her retirement from all cricket in January 2026, making these clashes her swansong.
As India eyes the ODIs, starting with the 1st on February 24 at the Gabba, Brisbane (9:20 AM IST), skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s medal moment reminds us why fielding medals aren’t just awards; they’re game-changers in women’s cricket’s evolving battlefield.
(Inputs sourced from BCCI’s Fielding Medal Clip on Instagram).
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.