All it took was one innings from Harmanpreet Kaur to force the world to take a serious look at Indian women's cricket.
Her 171 not out (off 115 balls) against Australia in the semifinal of the 2017 Women's World Cup is often compared to Kapil Dev's 175 not out against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, and for good reason.
Just as the innings from Kapil was instrumental in India going on to win the tournament in England and changing a Nation’s sporting destiny, Harmanpreet’s incredible hitting helped the game gain popularity — in a way nothing else did in its four-decade old history — in the country.
It is rated by many as the greatest knock ever in women’s cricket. While her innings knocked the defending champion out of the World Cup, India faltered in the final.
Harmanpreet had hit seven sixes in that innings. Not many women have hit a cricket ball as hard or as cleanly as the 30-year-old from Punjab.
On Saturday night, she was delighted she could display her amazing skills in front of a crowd of about 15,000 on an Indian ground. Her 51 off 37 balls helped Supernovas retain the Women’s T20 Challenge crown.
An inspired effort
Chasing a modest 122 set by Velocity in the final, her side was in deep trouble at 64 for five with only a little over six overs remaining.
The captain, however, unleashed a series of stunning shots against what was an inspired effort by the bowlers to entertain the big crowd.
“Playing before such a big crowd was amazing,” Harmanpreet said.
“Later I was surprised to learn that thousands of people were standing outside the gates to come in.”
She said the tournament had been a great one for the women’s game and her personally.
“We wanted to play a T20 league in India and I am happy with the way it went,” she said. “All of us have learnt a lot from the tournament. I hope there would be more games next year.”
Harmanpreet, who was dismissed with four balls to spare, also gave credit to Radha Yadav, the 19-year-old who finished off the job.
When one was required off the last ball, the left-arm spinner unleashed a cracking shot through the covers.
“I was happy with Radha’s approach,” she said. “I did half the job and she finished it.”
