Former India captain Harmanpreet Kaur slammed an unbeaten 41-ball 91 against Zimbabwe in the third and final T20I of the series against Zimbabwe on October 20. During the innings break, she got emotional in an interview with the broadcasters. This was Harmanpreet’s third game since stepping down as captain. She credited former India coach WV Raman for her success in the post-captaincy period. She also credited her batting coach for the tweaks that needed to be done. After the interview, she threw the mic to her left and walked towards the dressing room.
“I think should give credit (WV Raman) to you also. The moment we came, you stepped in and you said, ‘Now you do what you want to do,’ and that's what I want to do, and really want to enjoy myself. Thanks for those words,” a visibly emotional Harmanpreet said in conversation with Raman.
“Well, after the two games, I got some time in the nets. I really want to thank Himanshu bhaiya, who's been working really hard on me and today's batting all about him,” she added.
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Harmanpreet walked out to bat at no.4 when India were 68/2 after 7.5 overs. She went berserk, hitting 10 fours and five sixes in her unbeaten 91. The 37-year-old took India's score to 216/7, their joint third-highest in the T20I format.
Harmanpreet's 91-run blitz is the second-highest score for a no.4 batter in T20Is for India. She holds the record with a 103-run knock against New Zealand in T20 World Cup 2018.
Indian bowlers were clinical in their approach. Despite Sharne Mayers' 49-ball 60, Zimbabwe managed to score 124/7, losing the match by 92 runs at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur. Nandani Sharma bagged three wickets, whereas Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad bagged a wicket each.
No pressure on Harmanpreet
Harmanpreet was adjudged ‘Player of the match’ for her carnage-filled stay at the crease as Smriti Mandhana-led India completed a 3-0 whitewash over visitors Zimbabwe. The veteran hard-hitter revealed she doesn’t have any pressure on anymore and she is enjoying her time in the middle.
"I don't think there is any pressure anymore. I think now it's all about enjoying myself on the field and I think that's what I want to do," Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation.
"I definitely enjoy myself in the middle and this is what I'm here for. I just want to enjoy my batting, and good that those runs came."
Harmanpreet realised early in her innings that it was a batting paradise and adopted an ultra-aggressive approach. She was batting on a run-a-ball after 13 overs. In the next over, she smashed Kudzai Chigora for two sixes and as many fours. After Shafali Verma departed for a 37-ball 69, she continued to deal in boundaries. In the 16th over, she hit three fours off Nomvelo Sibanda and reached her half-century from just 25 balls. Wickets kept falling on the other end, but Harmanpreet took India to a big total.
"I think the first [second] ball when I hit for a four, that time I realised it's a good pitch and bat was coming nicely to the ball. I think I got a lot of confidence from that shot, and then I just thought let me just keep going and let's see how it goes," she said.
Harmanpreet’s bat swing is the key
Once again, she credited her batting coach for creating match-like situations in the nets to bring the best out of her. She was asked about the changes she made after the Asia Cup.
"I think bat swing is something you know which is my key, and I just want to keep repeating that in the nets, and I think again I just want to give credit to my batting coach Himanshu bhaiya who has been working really hard and understood the kind of batting I can do. Every time when we meet, when we spend time in the nets, he just wants me to keep feeling that same pressure in the nets so that when I am playing the match, I should not feel any extra pressure. I think his tactics and his thoughts work really well," she said.
India wrapped up the series with their biggest T20I victory at home in terms of run margin. Also, it was India's 11th consecutive win in T20Is.
Shafali named ‘Player of the series’
Opener Shafali was named 'Player of the series' for scoring 128 runs at an average of 42.67 and a strike rate of 200. After a low score in the series opener, she scored two consecutive half-centuries. She is also the leading run-scorer in T20Is in 2026.
“Obviously, very happy towards the team if you're performing well. So really happy for that and winning the matches, and everything is going in our favor,” the young opener said.
ODI action begins this week
Harmanpreet getting big runs is a huge positive for India months ahead of the inaugural ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy 2027 at home. But for now, the focus will shift to the ODI series. The three-ODI series will begin on October 23 at BCA Stadium, Vadodara. Reigning ODI champions India would look to maintain their domination in the ODIs as well.
“The way we dominated all the three matches, that's something which we'll look to do even in the one-day series. That's something which we've been speaking about as a team. So hopefully we can do that in Baroda as well,” skipper Mandhana said in the post-match presentation.
Harmanpreet to surpass Lanning in ODIs?
Harmanpreet needs 62 more runs in the ODI series to go past legendary Australian captain Meg Lanning on the list of leading run-scorers in the format. She can go past New Zealand's Amy Satterthwaite. She will need 99 more runs to go past the New Zealander.
Harmanpreet is currently 13th on the list of leading ODI run-scorers. From 143 innings, she has scored 4,372 runs at an average of 37.22 and a strike rate of 76.86. She has seven centuries and 24 fifties in the format.