The atmosphere inside the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai during the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup semifinal was electric. A formidable 30,000-strong crowd held its breath as India faced seven-time world champions Australia, chasing a daunting 339 runs. India found themselves in a precarious position at 59/2.
Amidst the palpable tension, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur strode to the crease with quiet confidence. Her shoulders were back, and her bat was tucked under her arm like a warrior’s sword, a perfect blend of aggression and calm authority. She took her guard, her bat tracing a familiar arc, settling into a slightly open stance.
The “fearless brand of cricket” she had promised in her press conferences was vividly on display. Battling cramps and immense pressure, Harmanpreet delivered a magnificent 89 runs off just 88 balls, laying the groundwork for India’s momentous victory.
The league stage saw India lose three consecutive matches, which had critics sharpen their knives. However, a seismic transformation followed, as the team rallied against all odds, demonstrating a resilience no one thought they possessed. This extraordinary comeback was largely attributed to Harmanpreet’s inspiring leadership, her motivational presence, and her remarkable ability to make the seemingly impossible appear inevitable.
To truly grasp the essence of the 2025 captain, one must rewind to the seminal moment of her career: the 2017 ODI World Cup semifinal in Derby, England. It was on that rain-interrupted day, July 20, 2017, that Harmanpreet etched her name into the annals of Indian women’s cricket history. She unleashed an epochal, unbeaten 171 runs off 115 balls, dismantling the then-defending champions Australia with breathtaking power and precision. This innings, adorned with 20 boundaries and seven colossal sixes, remains arguably the single greatest performance by an Indian woman cricketer on the global stage. It wasn’t just a win; it triggered a profound societal shift.
Overnight, cricket in India began to be seen as a two-gender sport by millions of new fans. Her ferocity in that knock was a powerful declaration: Indian women were not merely participating; they were here to dominate, to own the game, and to overwhelm opponents with unapologetic aggression.
That pivotal 2017 innings became the bedrock upon which the current era of Indian women’s cricket is built. It paved the way for unprecedented visibility, leading to central contracts, lucrative endorsements, and a significant stride towards pay-parity with male cricketers. Harmanpreet Kaur swiftly became the face of this revolution.
Harmanpreet’s journey began far from the glittering lights of Mumbai, in the unassuming town of Moga, Punjab. Born on International Women’s Day, her father, Harmandar Singh Bhullar—a former volleyball and basketball player—celebrated her birth by proudly declaring her future in cricket with a T-shirt that read ‘Good Batting’.
As a teenager, she would accompany her father to the Guru Nanak College Stadium ground in Moga, fearlessly playing cricket with boys and consistently clearing boundaries. Her raw power and insatiable hunger for the game quickly caught the attention of local coach Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi, who, along with his son Yadwinder Singh Sodhi, made a compelling request to her father: “Aap apni beti hume de do” (Give us your daughter). Her father, initially hesitant, eventually agreed, setting the stage for her meteoric rise.
“She was hitting the ball so hard, even as a small girl, that the other kids would complain. They always thought she was aiming for the fence, but she was aiming for the trees beyond the fence. That power was always there,” her father recalled in an earlier interview.
It was her first coach, Yadwinder Singh Sodhi, who meticulously refined her raw power into cricketing technique. Sodhi, who operated a cricket academy at the Gyan Jyoti Public School in the nearby Tarapur village, recognized a prodigy who sought no special treatment. “She never wanted to bat with soft balls or easier nets. She wanted to face the fast bowlers, the best boys in the academy. Her hitting was natural, but her commitment to practicing the hardest shots—the sixes—was unique. She was ready to take on the world, even when she was just a teenager in Moga,” Sodhi shared.
Following her monumental 171-run knock, Harmanpreet’s stature soared, transforming her from a national talent into an international pioneer. In 2016, she made history as the first Indian cricketer, male or female, to secure a Big Bash League (BBL) contract with the Sydney Thunder in Australia. This move was monumental, showcasing that Indian women’s cricketing talent was not only globally competitive but highly coveted. Her subsequent success in the BBL, where she was crowned Sydney Thunder’s Player of the Tournament, opened the floodgates for other Indian players to pursue lucrative overseas T20 opportunities.
Further solidifying her pioneering status, she was signed by the Surrey Stars for the 2017 season of the Kia Super League (KSL), becoming the first Indian woman to be selected for the team. Although an injury sidelined her for that season, her KSL journey continued, as she went on to play for the Lancashire Thunder in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Harmanpreet has also left an indelible mark in The Hundred, featuring for prominent teams like the Manchester Originals and Trent Rockets, where her exceptional all-round skills consistently shone. She began her Hundred journey with the Manchester Originals in the inaugural 2021 season and has since continued to impress with the Trent Rockets from 2023 onwards.
For the younger generation—the Jemimahs, the Shafalis, the Pratikas—Harmanpreet serves as both a mirror and a window. A mirror reflecting what unwavering grit from a small town can achieve, and a window revealing the boundless possibilities that come with playing cricket at the highest level in India. ‘Harry di,’ as she is affectionately known, emerged from Moga, defied conventions, and evolved into a six-hitting sensation, now standing as a radiant beacon for Indian women’s cricket.