Harmanpreet Kaur has wasted little time in moving on from her decision to step down as India’s captain, shifting her attention back to batting and the joy she has found in the game throughout her career. The experienced batter made a strong statement with a match-winning century in India’s 121-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second ODI, helping the hosts seal the series on Sunday night. The performance came just days after Harmanpreet impressed with a 91 in a T20 International against Zimbabwe, underlining her excellent form across formats. Her latest hundred was also the eighth of her ODI career, further strengthening her position among India’s leading run-scorers in women’s cricket.
Speaking after the match, Harmanpreet Kaur explained that she was ready to accept the change in her role and focus on what mattered most to her. “I am someone who likes to live life close to reality. This is the reality now, and I want to accept it,” she said. Emphasising her love for batting, she added that cricket had always brought her happiness and that she wanted to enjoy her time at the crease.
The former India captain also made it clear that leadership responsibilities do not influence her approach once she walks out to bat. Her priority remains assessing the match situation, taking responsibility and contributing according to the team’s requirements.
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Harmanpreet’s century also helped her surpass former India captain Mithali Raj in the list of Indian batters with the most hundreds in women’s ODIs. She moved into second place with eight centuries, behind Smriti Mandhana, who leads the chart with 14. Discussing her approach in the 50-over format, Harmanpreet highlighted the importance of balancing patience with attacking intent. She credited her discussions with Pratika Rawal, who scored 61 off 67 balls, for helping them maintain the right approach at the crease.
The veteran batter also revealed that she had been dealing with a mild fever the previous night. Despite the discomfort, she managed to produce a decisive innings, with rest and painkillers helping her cope with the symptoms. Meanwhile, India captain Smriti Mandhana identified the team’s recovery after losing two early wickets as one of the biggest positives. India were reduced to 19/2 but recovered impressively to post a formidable total of 328.
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Mandhana was particularly pleased with Deepti Sharma’s century, praising the all-rounder’s recent contributions and recalling her match-winning performances during the ODI World Cup. She welcomed Deepti’s latest milestone as another reward for her consistent batting efforts.
The Indian captain also praised left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, who claimed four wickets. Mandhana highlighted the youngster’s ability to vary her pace and change angles, while acknowledging the contributions of the other bowlers.
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Smriti Mandhana also appreciated Zimbabwe’s fielding effort, noting that their commitment and willingness to dive for the ball had prevented an estimated 20-30 runs, particularly in the point region. She described their energy in the field as an encouraging sign for the growth of women’s cricket. Harmanpreet’s century and India’s comprehensive victory provided plenty of positives for the hosts, while the batter’s comments suggested that she is determined to embrace her new chapter by focusing on her performances and enjoying the game.
