In a campaign marked by narrow defeats and mounting pressure, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur carved her own piece of history amidst heartbreak. During India’s nerve-wracking 4-run loss to England at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on 19th October 2025, Harmanpreet became only the 2nd Indian and the 7th batter overall to surpass 1,000 runs in ICC Women’s ODI World Cup history.
Her composed knock of 70 off 70 balls, laced with 10 boundaries, not only marked her 21st ODI half-century but also served as the backbone of India’s spirited run chase of 289. Together with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, she forged a crucial 125-run partnership for the third wicket, an effort that nearly resurrected India’s faltering campaign but eventually fell agonizingly short.
India’s World Cup journey in the 13th edition of the tournament, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 30th September to 2nd November 2025, began on a resounding note. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side registered comprehensive wins in their opening games, first against Sri Lanka by 59 runs, followed by a commanding 88-run victory over Pakistan. However, the momentum soon slipped away as successive defeats followed, by 3 wickets each against South Africa and Australia in Visakhapatnam, and then the narrow heartbreak against England in Indore.
With just four points from five games, India retained their 4th spot on the table but now face a stern equation: they must win their remaining two games, against New Zealand on 23rd October and Bangladesh on 26th October, both in Navi Mumbai, by comprehensive margins to stay ahead in the semi-final race. The equation is daunting, but under Harmanpreet’s leadership, India’s fightback spirit remains undiminished.
Since making her international debut on 7th March 2009 against Pakistan at Bowral, Harmanpreet Kaur has been the heart and soul of Indian women’s cricket. Over the years, she has accumulated 4,290 runs in 157 ODIs at an average of 36.98 and a strike rate of 76.70, including 21 fifties and 7 centuries.
Her defining moment came in the 2017 World Cup semi-final against Australia at Derby, where her unbeaten 171* off 115 balls, decorated with 20 boundaries and 7 sixes, became an immortal chapter in the history of the sport. It was a performance that not only took India to the final but also changed the perception of women’s cricket in the country forever.
Now in her fifth ODI World Cup campaign, and her first as captain, Harmanpreet has amassed 1,017 runs at an average of 46.22 and a strike rate of 93.13 in 27 innings, including five half-centuries and three centuries. Her contributions across editions highlight her remarkable consistency and adaptability on the global stage.
2009 (Australia): Scored 40 runs in three innings, marking her debut appearance on the world stage.
2013 (India): Aggregated 159 runs at an average of 53, including a memorable unbeaten century.
2017 (England): Scored 359 runs at a stunning average of 59.83, with the iconic 171* ensuring her place in cricket folklore.
2022 (New Zealand): Amassed 318 runs at an average of 53, finishing as India’s second-highest scorer.
2025 (India & Sri Lanka): Has 141 runs so far at an average of 28.20, including a resilient half-century against England.
Each edition of the tournament has seen Harmanpreet evolve, not just as a batter, but as a leader embodying commitment and composure under fire.
The Indore fixture also saw the Indian skipper notch another milestone, becoming only the second Indian, after Mithali Raj, to score 1,000 ODI runs against England. She now has 1,025 runs in 28 matches against them, averaging 46.59 with a strike rate of 75.70, including six fifties and three centuries. Her standout innings against England came in Canterbury on 21st September 2022, where her unbeaten 143* off 111 balls guided India to an 88-run win, sealing a memorable 3-0 whitewash, the first in over two decades.
As India heads into two must-win fixtures in Navi Mumbai, the spotlight once again turns to Harmanpreet Kaur. Her journey, spanning 16 years, five World Cups, and countless moments of brilliance, represents more than mere statistics. It embodies the resilience of Indian women’s cricket and its unyielding pursuit of excellence.
Harmanpreet’s achievement of surpassing 1,000 World Cup runs stands as a milestone not only in her illustrious career but also in the broader evolution of the women’s game in India. For a generation of young aspirants, she remains an emblem of belief, fierce in competition, graceful in leadership, and relentless in her drive to take Indian cricket to greater heights.
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