Harmanpreet Kaur breaks Meg Lanning’s World Record for most wins as captain in Women’s T20Is

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scripted history on December 26 by becoming the most successful captain in the history of Women’s T20Is. Following India’s eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in third T20Is in Trivandrum, Kaur secured her 77th win as captain, surpassing the long-standing record of 76 wins held by Australian legend Meg Lanning. This feat places her ahead of other iconic leaders like England’s Heather Knight (72 wins) and Charlotte Edwards (68 wins).

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Winning Machine Harmanpreet Kaur Smashes World Record for Most Wins in Women’s T20Is

While Lanning reached her milestone in just 100 matches compared to Harmanpreet’s 130, the record is a powerful testament to the Indian captain’s longevity and leadership. Unlike Lanning, who inherited a world-beating Australian juggernaut, the Punjab-born superstar has been instrumental in building a younger, less experienced Indian side into a global powerhouse, making her win tally particularly impressive.

Most wins as captain in T20Is:

Harmanpreet Kaur (India) - 77 wins in 130 matches
Meg Lanning (Australia) - 76 wickets in 100 matches
Heather Knight (England) - 72 wickets in 96 matches
Charlotte Edwards (England) - 68 wickets in 93 matches

The record-breaking victory also served as a series-clincher for the Women in Blue. Although Sri Lanka showed early intent through Hasini Perera, India’s veteran core quickly asserted dominance. Deepti Sharma provided the initial breakthrough by removing Chamari Athapaththu, while Renuka Singh Thakur made a sensational return to the side, tearing through the top order to leave the visitors reeling at 32/3.

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The bowling unit never let up the pressure, with Renuka finishing with four wickets and Deepti chipping in to become the joint-highest wicket-taker in the history of the format. Their combined efforts restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 112/7, setting the stage for a comfortable chase and a historic night for their captain.

In the chase, Shafali Verma took immediate control of the proceedings, delivering a masterclass in aggressive batting. She dismantled the Sri Lankan bowling attack with a blistering, unbeaten 79 off just 42 deliveries, effectively ending any hopes of a comeback from the visitors.

Despite a few brief strikes from Kavisha Dilhari that managed to trouble the other end, Shafali's overwhelming dominance ensured the result was never in doubt. Her explosive innings powered India to a comfortable eight-wicket victory, sealing a 3-0 lead and securing the five-match series with two games to spare.