Harmanpreet Kaur’s epic knock of 171 not out against Australia in the Women’s Cricket World Cup on Thursday had several people compare her innings to that of Kapil Dev’s 175 in the 1983 World Cup.
Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri tweeted a split image of Kapil Dev and Harmanpreet Kaur, saying deja vu. Commentators like Harsha Bhogle and Alan Wilkins also compared the two innings.
However, Kapil Dev has come forward and said that the two innings should not be compared and that Harmanpreet Kaur should be celebrated.
{{/usCountry}}However, Kapil Dev has come forward and said that the two innings should not be compared and that Harmanpreet Kaur should be celebrated.
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“The feeling is as if India has already won the World Cup. The final match is yet to be played against England on Sunday and I wish them all the luck,” Kapil told The Times of India.
“It’s an unfair comparison. You can’t compare those two knocks. Right now, you shouldn’t bring what happened in the past. Right now, we should celebrate Harman’s innings.”
Harmanpreet Kaur hammered 20 boundaries and seven sixes in her 115-ball innings to take India into the final of the global meet where they will take on England at Lord’s on Sunday.
The innings set the social media abuzz with the twitteratti drawing reference to the 1983 World Cup; how it changed Indian cricket and how it can make a difference to women’s cricket in the country.
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Walking in to bat with India tottering at 17/5 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, Kapil Dev went on to play one of the greatest knocks in one-day cricket, hammering 175 runs off 138 balls which included 16 boundaries and six sixes.
Eventually, India won the match by 31 runs to revive their campaign in the quadrennial tournament.
Kapil Dev said that due to prior commitments he was not able to see Harmanpreet Kaur’s innings but will do so soonest.
“I couldn’t see Harman’s knock live, but I am certainly going to catch up with the recorded version of it. It’s a great honour for our country to see such a knock happening from Harman,” he said.
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“Harman’s knock is special because women’s cricket doesn’t get that kind of encouragement and when you see such a brilliant innings, it is a special day for Indian cricket,” he concluded.