Harmanpreet Kaur: Want to win this series at any cost

Harmanpreet Kaur

Indian women's T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who missed the ODI series and the one-off day-night Test against Australia due to a thumb injury, has fully recovered and is raring to go in the three-match T20I series, beginning in Gold Coast today. Kaur, 32, insisted that she has been practising well in the nets across the last few days and is all geared up for the series.

"Initially, when I got injured, I was not able to even hold the bat or field. Only since the second or third day of the Test [last Friday and Saturday] have things got better and I was able to bat in the nets. It was very disappointing to miss the Test. But, the support staff have taken good care of me to help me ready for the T20Is," Kaur said during the pre-match virtual press conference in reply to mid-day's question on how she overcame her injury. The injury period was tough, but it has also taught Kaur a lot, she said, and has even helped her gain confidence ahead of the T20I series.

"Earlier, when I got injured, it was difficult because I was always involved in the game, but this time, I learnt a lot sitting on the sidelines. I have confidence and I am hitting the ball well in the nets. I missed the ODI series and the Test because I was not fit and it was hampering my fielding. But I am perfectly fine now. I have a lot of cricket coming up, so I am excited," Kaur added.

Though India lost the ODI series 1-2, they beat the Australians in the third and final game by two wickets and Kaur wants her teammates to carry forward this confidence into the T20I series and win all three games. "The momentum we created in the ODIs, it's important, and we want to continue that in the T20Is. We want to win all three games. We want to win this series at any cost. We will go all out," said Kaur, as she threw her weight behind Mumbai girl, Jemimah Rodrigues.

"She [Rodrigues] played really good cricket in The Hundred. Her individual performance was good and she played the role perfectly for her side [Northern Superchargers]. We have high hopes from her. When someone is in good form, the team has high expectations. We hope she can carry her good form from The Hundred, into this series for us," said Kaur, who last played a competitive match for Manchester Originals in The Hundred in July.

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