Post by : Badri Ariffin

Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian women's cricket team, made history on Saturday by becoming the most successful captain in women's T20 International cricket. She reached this milestone during the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram, where India dominated with an eight-wicket victory, securing the five-match series 3-0.

This victory allowed Harmanpreet to surpass the impressive record set by Australian star Meg Lanning. With this win, she now holds 77 victories as captain in 130 T20Is, alongside 48 losses and five no results, boasting a win percentage of 58.46. Lanning concluded her tenure with 76 wins from just 100 matches, marking her own legacy.

Sri Lanka's Batters Struggle

Batting first after India won the toss, Sri Lanka faced significant challenges against a solid Indian bowling lineup. Imesha Dulani was the top scorer with 27 runs off 32 balls, with Hasini Perera (25 off 18) and Kavisha Dilhari (20 off 13) being the only other batters to surpass the 20-run mark, leading to a total of 112/7 in 20 overs.

The Indian bowlers executed their plans effectively. Deepti Sharma shone with a stellar performance of 3/18, making her the first Indian, among both men and women, to achieve 150 T20I wickets. Fast bowler Renuka Singh added her own brilliance, taking 4/21 and putting Sri Lanka under serious pressure.

Shafali Shines in the Chase

In response, India was propelled by a stunning display from opener Shafali Verma, who scored an unbeaten 79 off just 42 balls, featuring 11 fours and three sixes. Captain Harmanpreet provided steady support with a quick 21 off 18 balls as India chased down the target in just 13.2 overs, losing only two wickets.

Shafali's recent performances have been a highlight for India this year. Across eight T20Is in 2025, she has amassed 333 runs with an average of 55.50 and a strike rate exceeding 173, including three half-centuries and a top score of 79*.

Targeting World Cup Success

After leading India to its first ICC Women’s World Cup title this year, Harmanpreet is now looking to claim a T20 World Cup trophy. The women's T20 World Cup is set for June-July next year in the UK, where India will face a competitive Group A featuring Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan, with two more teams still to be announced.

With a record-breaking tenure and a squad in exceptional form, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team looks poised to pursue another historic title on the world stage.

#Global News #Sports News