Harmanpreet Kaur Finds Joy in Batting Again After Emotional Revelation

Emotional Moment for Harmanpreet Kaur

Raipur. Former captain of India, Harmanpreet Kaur, became emotional while sharing how ex-coach W.V. Raman encouraged her to play on her own terms. This revelation came after her explosive innings of 91 runs off just 41 balls against Zimbabwe, marking a significant return to form and allowing her to rediscover her love for the game.

A Stellar Performance Against Zimbabwe

In the third and final T20I match against Zimbabwe, Harmanpreet delivered one of her most aggressive performances in recent times. During a mid-innings interview, the pain of her recent struggles was evident in her voice as she spoke about enjoying her batting.

Expressing gratitude towards Raman, she stated, “As soon as we arrived, you stepped forward and said, ‘Now you do what you want to do,’ and I wanted to enjoy my batting. Thank you for those words.”

Enjoying the Game Again

After the match, Harmanpreet shared that her primary goal was to spend time at the crease and play without pressure. She scored 10 fours and 5 sixes, helping India reach a formidable total of 216/7. India won the match by 92 runs, completing a clean sweep of the series 3-0.

Reflecting on her innings, she mentioned, “When I hit a four off the first ball, I realized the pitch was good and the ball was coming onto the bat nicely. That one shot gave me a lot of confidence, and I just continued to play freely.”

She also credited batting coach Himanshu for helping her work on her technique and bat swing after the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, creating a match-like atmosphere during practice sessions to ease her pressure.

A New Chapter in Her Career

Prior to the Zimbabwe series, Harmanpreet stepped down from captaincy across all formats, with Smriti Mandhana taking over the role. With the burden of captaincy lifted, this innings has proven to be a confidence booster for the 37-year-old veteran.

This is a very encouraging sign for India as the team prepares for several important international series ahead. Harmanpreet will aim to maintain this momentum in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe starting on October 23 in Vadodara.