Indian veteran batter Harmanpreet Kaur has played crucial innings of 109 and 71 in the ongoing IIC Women’s ODI World Cup, and has played an instrumental role in the team’s success so far
Despite an underwhelming period between the last World Cup and the ongoing edition of the tournament, Kaur boasts an incredible average of 50.46 in World Cups. Having played 19 innings in the marquee tournament so far, she has amassed 757 runs, placing her in elite company. Kaur has the ninth-highest average in World Cups, just behind legendary ex-England captain Charlotte Edwards.
She has had a disappointing run from 2017 onwards and faced a severe drought of runs post the World Cup final, where the Indian women lost to England, in a heartbreaking defeat, having taken the game by the scruff of the neck, only to falter towards the end, throwing away the game, and the World Cup. India’s hunt for that elusive World Cup trophy continues in the 2022 edition of the tournament, where Kaur has shown her class.
Many questioned Kaur’s place in the side, and there were several conjectures that she received the backing that she has as a result of her historic 171* against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semifinal. However, she has proved that the long rope was justified, after brilliant knocks against West Indies and New Zealand in the ongoing World Cup.
The 33-year-old, as a result of those two crucial innings, proved to the world that she still has what it takes to compete at the highest level, and that she is an integral part of the Indian middle-order as well.
A big-game player, Kaur averages more than 50 in World Cup encounters, which is significantly higher than her career average of 35. She adds immense value with her ability to play the long innings in crucial situations, and that is one of the many reasons she is regarded so highly in the Indian setup. Three of her four career centuries have come in World Cup games, and her strike rate of 97 is also quite a lot higher than her career strike rate.
“Big tournaments are very important and your role is more important, you need to take more responsibility and perform for your team. Maybe that’s the reason I do well in World Cups. I always want to give my best for the team but sometimes, things don’t go your way. But I’ll make sure whenever we play the World Cup, I’ll be there for my team.”
Kaur said ahead of India’s game against England at Mount Manganui.
Smriti Mandhana, who was involved in a massively important 184-run stand with Kaur in the Indians’ game against the Windies, heaped praise on the veteran, saying that Kaur thrives when she is challenged, when “her back is towards the wall”.
Harmanpreet also agreed that self-belief plays a huge role in big games, and that backing oneself is always important for a game-changing performance under trying circumstances.
“Sometimes, I just need to back myself and that’s what I’ve been doing, like before this West Indies game, and the New Zealand game,” she said. “When I bat with Smriti and someone who is already settled, it’s always easy for me to settle there and that’s what I enjoyed the other day.”
Kaur remarked.
Kaur was also wary of the Indian batting order’s tendency to lose wickets in heaps, often leading to a collapse. India have slumped to precarious positions on a number of occasions in this ongoing World Cup alone, most often losing wickets in the middle-overs phase, where consolidation is most important. However, the lower middle-order has bailed them out on a few occasions in this tournament, and as a result, the Indians are in a favourable position in the competition so far.
