Harmanpreet Kaur Aims for Glory in Women's Cricket World Cup

Harmanpreet Kaur's Aspirations for the World Cup

As India gears up for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed that her strategy remains unchanged from her debut World Cup experience. She reflected on the significant influence her unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 semifinals had on the landscape of women's cricket in India.

Leading the team in her inaugural Women's Cricket World Cup, Kaur is determined to secure India's first senior ICC title. The team has previously finished as runners-up on two occasions, losing to Australia by 98 runs in 2005 and narrowly to England by nine runs in 2017 at Lord's.

"My approach is similar to my first ODI World Cup. I aim to enjoy my cricket, and playing in front of a home crowd adds to the excitement," Kaur stated during the '50 Days To Go' event in Mumbai, as reported by ICC.

"This time, we are committed to giving our all and breaking through the final barrier that has eluded us," she added.

High Confidence Ahead of the Tournament

In her 26 matches at the ICC Women's World Cup, Harmanpreet has amassed 876 runs across 22 innings, boasting an impressive average of 51.52, including three centuries and four half-centuries. She believes that India's recent successes, particularly their series victory in England, have bolstered their confidence heading into the tournament.

"Our confidence is at an all-time high. The quality of cricket we've displayed over the past few years has instilled a lot of belief in us," she remarked.

India aims to surpass their performance from the 2017 tournament, where they reached the final but fell short against England in a nail-biting finish at Lord's.

Reflecting on the previous World Cup, Kaur acknowledged the disappointment of missing out on their first title but noted the lasting impact it had on women's cricket in India.

Memorable Moments from the 2017 World Cup

One of the standout performances from the last tournament was Harmanpreet Kaur's explosive 171* against Australia in the semifinals.

"That innings was incredibly special for me and for women's cricket as a whole. It marked a turning point for both myself and the sport," Kaur shared.

"At the time, I didn't fully grasp its significance. However, upon returning to India, the overwhelming support we received, despite losing the final, was truly heartwarming," she concluded.

The upcoming tournament is scheduled from September 30 to November 2, with India set to kick off the event against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.