A global cricketing icon, Harmanpreet Kaur, fondly known as ‘Harman’, has been the pillar for the Indian women’s cricket team for close to a decade. She lit up the Women’s Premier League 2023 opener by smashing a power-packed 65 off just 30 balls at DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. (Pic Courtesy: wplt20/PTI/AP)
Updated On: 2023-03-05 06:45 PM IST
Compiled by : Srijanee Majumdar
Known as the run machine for the national team, Harmanpreet continued her glorious form from the Women's T20 World Cup to put her side Gujarat Giants on the back foot after having lost the toss to Beth Mooney, who elected to bowl first. As a result of her imperious feat, Kaur became the first player to score a half-century in WPL’s history.
Much to everyone’s delight, Harmanpreet hit a barrage of boundaries and maximums to achieve a rare feat with seven boundaries in a row. While three of those were hit in Ashleigh Gardner’s over, the remaining four came off Monica Patel.
Her unique feat also meant that she emulated Chris Gayle from the 2011 edition of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL). Gayle had achieved this feat during the infamous 37-run win over Kerala Tuskers at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy stadium.
Kaur's innings against Gujarat on Saturday was straight out of textbook for all the domestic players watching in her team, competition and beyond. She found gaps at will, connected the ball perfectly, and did not give a single chance to the opposition bowlers to capitalise.
Kaur made her One Day International debut at the age of 20, against Pakistan in March 2009 in the Women's Cricket World Cup. She bowled four overs only conceding 10 runs. She grew up playing cricket with both men and women, with her father being her first ever coach. She went on to make her WT20I debut the same year in the 2009 ICC Women's World Twenty20.
