Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur created history after walking out for the toss in India’s first game in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup against New Zealand on Friday (October 4) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and became the first Indian player in history to achieve multiple feats.
Harmanpreet lost the toss as Sophie Devine decided to bat first. The 34-year-old is hoping to become the first-ever Indian captain in history to win a senior ICC Women’s title. The Women in Blue are in Group A and will face Pakistan (October 6), Sri Lanka (October 9), and Australia (October 13) next.
Harmanpreet Kaur Creates History
Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first-ever Indian captain to lead the national team in four editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Previously, Mithali Raj captained India in three tournaments, while Jhulan Goswami led the national team in the first two editions.
Captains To Lead India In Women’s T20 World Cups
Captain | Number of T20 World Cups captained | Years |
Harmanpreet Kaur | 4 | 2018, 2020, 2023, 2024 |
Mithali Raj | 3 | 2012, 2014, 2016 |
Jhulan Goswami | 2 | 2009, 2010 |
India were beaten in the semi-finals under Jhulan’s captaincy in both 2009 and 2010 while crashing out in the group stage in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Since Harmanpreet took charge of the team in the shortest format, India lost the semi-final in 2018 and 2023 to England and Australia respectively. Under her leadership, India reached their first and only final till date in 2020 when they lost to Australia in front of a world record crowd at the MCG.
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Harmanpreet has also extended her record as the Indian player to play in most editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup and she became the first-ever Women in Blue player to feature in nine editions. Harmanpreet is one of six players around the world to play in all nine editions of the tournament since 2009 alongside Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Ellyse Perry, Stafine Taylor, and Chamari Athapaththu.
Harmanpreet holds the record of both playing (174) and leading (119) in the most Women’s T20I matches.