Harmanpreet Kaur

Few cricketers have carried the weight of expectation for Indian women's cricket quite like Harmanpreet Kaur. From a powerful young batter in Punjab to a World Cup-winning captain and one of the most influential figures in the modern game, her career has been defined by big innings, bigger moments and a willingness to take responsibility when the pressure was at its highest.

Harmanpreet's story began in Moga, Punjab, where she broke into senior domestic cricket in 2006-07, building an early reputation with aggressive batting and handy part-time off-spin. She made her international bow in March 2009, making her ODI debut against Pakistan at the Women's World Cup, before adding a T20I debut against England in Taunton that June. In 2014, she moved to Mumbai to join Indian Railways, one of India's strongest domestic teams, and the same year earned her Test cap against England at Wormsley. It was around this period that her international career began to gather momentum, setting the stage for a breakthrough few years later.

Her career really took off from 2016 onwards. She took over as India's T20I captain that year and soon became the first Indian woman to sign with an overseas T20 franchise when she joined Sydney Thunder in the WBBL. She made an immediate impact, scoring 296 runs and taking 6 wickets in her debut season to be named Sydney Thunder's Player of the Tournament. That breakthrough was followed by the defining moment of her playing career at the 2017 World Cup. Her unbeaten 171 against Australia in the semi-final became one of the most celebrated innings in women's cricket and established her as a player for the biggest occasions. The performance earned her the Arjuna Award later that year.

She carried that momentum into the next phase of her career. Harmanpreet played for Lancashire Thunder in England's Kia Super League before leading India to the 2018 Asia Cup title. At the 2018 T20 World Cup, she added another landmark, becoming the first Indian woman to score a T20I century with a stunning 103 against New Zealand. Her leadership responsibilities continued to grow. Harmanpreet led India into the 2020 T20 World Cup final against Australia at the MCG, where a record crowd watched the hosts lift the trophy. India fell short, but reaching the final marked another significant step in the team's rise and in Harmanpreet's development as a leader.

Kaur's success was not limited to international cricket. In the 2021-22 WBBL season, Harmanpreet returned to the podium with Melbourne Renegades and became the first player from outside Australia or New Zealand to win the Player of the Tournament award. It was another indication of how far her influence had spread beyond India. In 2022, she was appointed India's full-time ODI captain, succeeding Mithali Raj. That same year, she led India to the Asia Cup title, adding another major trophy to her growing collection. A year later, she took over as India's Test captain, while her leadership credentials grew further with Mumbai Indians in the newly launched Women's Premier League.

Harmanpreet led Mumbai Indians to the inaugural WPL title in 2023, establishing herself as one of the first major leaders in the competition. She would add another WPL trophy in 2025, further strengthening her reputation as a successful captain across formats and competitions. The Asia Cup remained another important part of her leadership journey. India suffered a setback in the 2024 final when Sri Lanka ended their run, but Harmanpreet and her side bounced back to reclaim the title in 2026.

The high point of that leadership, and arguably her career, arrived in 2025. Harmanpreet led India to their maiden ODI World Cup title on home soil, finally delivering a trophy that had eluded the team for decades. It was the culmination of years of near misses, growing expectations and Harmanpreet's own evolution from powerful middle-order batter into the team's leader. The following year brought further recognition. Harmanpreet was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, and helped India win a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal. The gold medal proved to be her final act as captain.

On October 6, 2026, Harmanpreet announced that she was stepping down from the captaincy across all formats, bringing an end to a decade of leadership. By then, she had captained India in 5 Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is, becoming the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a side in more than 150 T20Is. From a young batter in Moga to a World Cup-winning leader, Harmanpreet's journey has mirrored the growth of Indian women's cricket itself, with her biggest moments often arriving when the stakes were highest.