Harmanpreet Kaur on the Cusp of Creating History As She Prepares for her 200th T20I Appearance Against South Africa

Manchester, England: Harmanpreet Kaur will create history on Sunday as Team India capital is all set to become the first player to represent their county in 200 T20 international matches. 

The 37-year-old, veteran of the Indian Women’s Cricket team has been ever-present in all the T20 World Cups so far and she will once again lead her side in a crunch Group A match against South Africa at the Old Trafford. 

Kaur, who made her debut for Team India 17 years ago in England in the 2009 T20 World Cup, will achieve this historic feat on Sunday, as per the media release by the ICC. The current Indian Women’s Cricket team’s bowling coach, Avishkar Salvi, while paying tribute to Kaur, said, “she has played a crucial role in shaping the development of many young players around her.”

He further added, “I think Harman is a top-level athlete.” The Indian captain has been a real role model for many young and aspiring players globally and the way she has conducted herself throughout her career is truly remarkable. She has been an important player for team India in all formats of the game, any playing her 200th T20 game is a big thing. We are all very excited to watch her perform, said Salvi. 

From a work ethics point of view, she is world class, and she keeps working hard on the basics. She also shares a lot of her experience with the young players in the squad. So, that is also a dimension where she comes in. Sometimes, this is a lot of information everywhere, but coming from someone who has performed so well at the highest level, those little minor points that she shares with the players, makes a huge difference in the confidence levels of other players and boosts their career as well, he added. 

Having played 200 T20 International matches, South Africa, India’s opponent on Sunday will be well aware of the threat she still poses. And, none more than the veteran all-rounder in the South African camp, Chloe Tyron, who is also her teammate at the Mumbai Indian in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), but for now, her opponent on the international stage. 

Tyron said, “200 games is a lot. She makes it sound easy. I have had the opportunity to play alongside her, watch her do her thing. It’s been remarkable to watch her journey, when I was a small girl as well, just looking up to big players. She has been a role model for so many people around the world. To see her still playing cricket is amazing, and leading from the front, which is really good to see. Hopefully she has 200 more. I don't know how much more she can push through, but looks, it's great to see how the women’s game has grown and how she has taken the game forward.”

South Africa returned to Manchester needing a win, after losing to Australia in their opening match at the same ground before beating Pakistan in a close encounter at Edgbaston. 

Meanwhile, India has won both their games quite comfortably against Pakistan and Netherlands. However, the fifth-ranked side, South Africa will pose a tougher challenge to them and will come in as a sort-of favourite given how they have had an upper hand in their recent meetings.