Harmanpreet Kaur Makes History in Women's T20 Cricket

Harmanpreet Kaur has made history by becoming the first cricketer to play 200 T20I matches, leading the Indian women's cricket team in a crucial World Cup clash against South Africa. This milestone highlights her remarkable career and contributions to the sport, as she aims to guide her team to their first tournament victory. Discover more about her achievements and the significance of this match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 21, 2026, 18:52 IST

Historic Milestone for Harmanpreet Kaur

On June 21, during the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup match against South Africa at Old Trafford, Manchester, Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian women's cricket team, made history. This match is crucial for both teams as they strive for a spot in the semi-finals, aiming to clinch the tournament title for the first time. Harmanpreet is marking her 200th T20I appearance, having debuted in the 2009 edition. She stands out as the only Indian player to have participated in all ten editions of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup and is among just seven players globally to achieve this milestone.

Harmanpreet's Unprecedented Achievement

Harmanpreet has made her mark as the first cricketer, male or female, to reach 200 T20I matches. Among women cricketers, New Zealand's Suzie Bates, who is retiring after this event, holds the second-most appearances. Paul Stirling from Ireland leads the overall record among all cricketers.

Top Players in T20I Matches

Player	T20I Played	Gender
Harmanpreet Kaur	200	Female
Suzie Bates	184	Female
Danni Wyatt-Hodge	182	Female
Ellyse Perry	177	Female
Smriti Mandhana	168	Female
Paul Stirling	163	Male
Allysa Healy	162	Female
N Dar	160	Female
Chamari Athapaththu	159	Female
Rohit Sharma	159	Male

To date, Harmanpreet has played 199 T20Is, accumulating 4,123 runs, which includes one century and 17 half-centuries. Only Smriti Mandhana (4,765 runs) and Suzie Bates (4,739 runs) have scored more runs among women cricketers. As captain, she has led in 144 T20Is, the highest for any cricketer of either gender, and her 3,193 runs as captain are also a record. Furthermore, she is recognized as the most successful captain in T20I history based on matches won.

Harmanpreet is also leading India for the 200th time across all formats, including 145 WT20Is, 51 WODIs, and 4 WTests. She is only the second woman in cricket history to achieve this milestone, following England's Charlotte Edwards, who captained her team 220 times.