Harmanpreet Kaur leads India’s charge with T20 World Cup in sight

Bengaluru: After a landmark 2025, Harmanpreet Kaur & Co head into the season with the T20 World Cup in England on the horizon. As captain, she leads an Indian women’s cricket team returning to familiar shores, chasing the chance to rewrite history.

The upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup carries emotional weight. England was the scene of India’s near miss in the ODI World Cup in 2017, which they lost to the hosts by nine runs. That final at Lord’s reshaped women’s cricket in the country and instilled belief.

Returning to England as ODI world champions, is there a sense of unfinished business? “Definitely,” admitted Kaur. “The last year gave us a lot of confidence. We’ll go in with a positive mindset and try to give our best.”

For Kaur, this is a full-circle moment. Nearly a decade after 2017, the venue remains the same, but the context has changed. She now leads a side that blends experience with belief.

Under her leadership, the rise of women’s cricket in India has mirrored her own journey — from a young power-hitter in 2009 to a figure now spoken of alongside Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni as an ODI World Cup-winning captain.

“I never thought people would put me alongside them,” she said. “It’s an honour. I always wanted to be part of a change where women’s cricket keeps moving forward.”

THE WPL EFFECT

The influx of young talent has added depth to the Indian dressing room, much of it shaped by the Women’s Premier League.

“Girls coming in are very well prepared because of the WPL,” Kaur said. “They’ve already experienced high-pressure cricket. We don’t need to give them confidence — they know the kind of cricket they want to play,” added the middle-order batter, speaking to TOI on the sidelines of the Puma x Hyrox event here.

For Kaur, the game itself has evolved from pressure to privilege.

“A few years ago, I really felt the pressure,” she admitted. “Now it’s a privilege. I’m living my dream. The hard work is done — it’s about enjoying every moment.”

COE’S CONTRIBUTION

Behind the results lies a transformation in preparation. The BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in the city has significantly raised training standards.

“It’s an amazing facility,” Kaur said. “It has everything we need to improve. Last year’s results show that the system is working.”

THE HARMANPREET STAND

Recognition has followed success. A stand at the PCA Stadium in Mullanpur now bears her name.

“It’s a great feeling,” she said. “I never imagined I’d have a stand named after me. But it shows that years of hard work do pay off.”

The honour is another marker in a remarkable career — one that continues to evolve.

By Kaushal Kumar V and Jia Khosla.