T20 World Cup: Inspired by younger self, Harmanpreet looks to thrive under pressure

Women's T20 World Cup: Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur said that she wants to play with full freedom as she gets set to step for her ninth edition in the tournament.

In Short

• Harmanpreet is set to play in her 9th Women’s T20 World Cup
• Harmanpreet is the only Indian batter to score a hundred in the Women’s T20 World Cup
• India’s first match is against New Zealand on October 4

Harmanpreet Kaur said that she will look to play with a positive mindset for India in the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 35-year-old is one of the seven cricketers along with Ellyse Perry, Chamari Athapaththu, Marizanne Kapp, Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Stafanie Taylor to play in all editions of the mega event.

Back in 2009, Harmanpreet played in her maiden T20 World Cup when she was 19 years old. The Indian captain said that her mentality would remain the same, and she would want to play with freedom. On Tuesday, September 24, the Indian women’s team left for the UAE.

“For me, I know I have played in so many World Cups and the experience and atmosphere is totally different. You can’t compare it to any bilateral series or bilateral tournaments,” Harmanpreet said in the pre-departure press conference where head coach Amol Muzumdar was also present.

“For me, this tournament remains same and I am going with the same excitement as how I went when I was just 19 years old. I just want to go there and enjoy myself. I have so much experience, I know what’s the pressure is like. For me, it’s going out there and playing with full freedom, not thinking about results. But if I go there, play freely and enjoy my cricket, I can change a lot of things,” Harmanpreet added.

Harmanpreet Kaur a part of Indian history

Harmanpreet remains the only Indian batter to have scored a hundred in the Women’s T20 World Cup. She achieved the feat against New Zealand back in 2018 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. In 35 matches in the history of the tournament, Harmanpreet has scored 576 runs at an average of 20.57 and a strike-rate of 107.66.

India are scheduled to begin their campaign on Friday, October 4 against Sophie Devine’s White Ferns at the Dubai International cricket Stadium.