Harmanpreet Kaur in T20 Women's World Cup: A Name for Milestones and Challenges

Harmanpreet Kaur, one of the most celebrated captains in Indian Women's Cricket, has been playing the T20 format since 2009.

The T20 Women's World Cup started in 2009. And Kaur has taken part in all eight versions, till the 2023 version, and is playing her 9th T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Her journey has been full of ups and downs. Hitting the rock bottom to rising up as the queen, leading her team from the front, her team has seen everything.

But someone who had set their eyes to the calm and composed demeanor of the former captain may find it hard to deal with the expressive nature of Kaur. From hitting big sixers like that in men's cricket to walking toward the umpires to have a chat regarding some decisions—not something nice to the traditional flagbearer of gentleman's cricket.

In many situations, she has been questioned about her form, which may not have rightly justified her aggression on the field. But the facilities she has been nurturing with. In her initial days, it is questionable to say, she didn't do enough!

Unfortunately, her 9th T20 World Cup hasn't rescued her from such questions. 11 runs in the two warm-up games, and 44 runs in the two matches she played in this World Cup. She left the field and retired-hurt due to certain injury concerns against Pakistan.

Kaur-aged same as T20 WC

Harmanpreet Kaur's first appearance in the Women's T20 World Cup was back in 2009, when she made her mark in the tournament held in England. 

The most experienced player from her side, she stands alongside great names like Stafanie Taylor, Suzie Bates, and Ellyse Perry to have played in every T20 World Cup.

So far, Kaur has played 35 matches, accumulating 576 runs with a not-so-decent average of 20.57.

Harmanpreet Kaur in the history books

The name Harmanpreet Kaur has been etched due to a few shocking deeds: it may sound like this—a "girl" that hit the monstrous six over the mid-wicket in the North Sydney Oval. It sounded so odd that she had to undergo a dope test.

Anyway, Kaur is always up for doing no-like-a-woman things, once making history by making a rampant 103-run innings in just 51 balls. It was in the 2018 T20 World Cup, at Guyana against New Zealand.

Kaur thus became the first-ever Indian woman centurion in T20 internationals.

It was her peak tournament. She averaged an impressive 45.75, leading India to the semifinals.

With her 183 total runs at the 2018 T20 World Cup, the captain has scored the second-highest number of runs for India at the tournament, 32 behind Mithali Raj’s 208 in 2014.

Consistently Inconsistent 

This is probably the best adjective, adverb, or whatever that can be given to the captain. At a point, when she looks dependable, she fails. And when expectations wash off, she rises up from the ashes, showing her true self. Confusing enough to support a possible conspiracy theory: if she needs to perform, do not expect anything from her.

Let alone the 2018 World Cup, Kaur’s statistics from the other World Cups have been mixed. In five of her T20 World Cups, her average hovered below 25, with 2014 and 2016 being particularly challenging for her, averaging as low as 4 and 8.66, respectively.

Ah! Sad enough for a fan as the stats don't come in support of the debate!

Bowling: The Forgotten Weapon

Primarily known for her explosive batting, her part-time off-spinning ability is a valuable asset for her team.

In T20Is, she has taken 32 wickets at an average of 24.84, with her best figures being 4 for 23. However, in recent years, Kaur has almost stopped bowling in T20Is, going 43 matches without rolling her arm over.

Leadership and Influence on Indian Women's Cricket

Harmanpreet Kaur’s legacy in the Women's T20 World Cup is a mixture of groundbreaking performances and moments of introspection. If not inspiring, but definitely a passage to the uncut aggression on the field, guiding and guarding players like her own.

She led India to the final of the T20 World Cup in 2020, where they finished runners-up to Australia. While her individual performance in the final did not meet expectations, her ability to guide a young Indian team to the grand stage was a testament to her leadership.

With more than 3,000 runs in T20 internationals, including 576 in World Cups, Kaur’s achievements make her one of India’s most successful T20I cricketers. The 2024 edition might well be her last World Cup, and she will be eager to leave a lasting impression, perhaps even lifting the trophy.