On Saturday, Indian women's cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur made history by becoming the most successful captain in women's T20 International matches. This achievement came during the third T20I against Sri Lanka held in Thiruvananthapuram, where India claimed a convincing eight-wicket win, sealing the five-match series 3-0.
With this latest victory, Harmanpreet surpassed the previous record held by Australian legend Meg Lanning. Currently, she boasts 77 wins as captain across 130 T20Is, with 48 losses and five matches resulting in no results—a win rate of 58.46%. Lanning, on the other hand, concluded her tenure with 76 wins from 100 matches, marking her own exceptional career.
Sri Lanka's Batting Struggles
After winning the toss, India elected to bowl, leaving Sri Lanka to face a formidable Indian bowling unit. Imesha Dulani led the scoring for Sri Lanka with 27 runs off 32 balls, and Hasini Perera (25 off 18) alongside Kavisha Dilhari (20 off 13) were the only other players to make a notable contribution. In the end, Sri Lanka managed a score of just 112/7 in their 20 overs.
The Indian bowlers showcased superb performance throughout. Deepti Sharma shone with figures of 3/18, becoming the first Indian—male or female—to reach 150 T20I wickets. Fast bowler Renuka Singh matched her efforts impressively, ending with 4/21, leaving Sri Lanka struggling.
Shafali Verma's Batting Brilliance
The chase was led by Shafali Verma's explosive 79 off just 42 balls, which included 11 fours and three sixes. Captain Harmanpreet assisted with a steady 21 runs from 18 balls, allowing India to comfortably reach their target in only 13.2 overs, dismissing just two players.
Shafali's performance has been outstanding this year; in eight T20Is, she has amassed 333 runs at an average of 55.50 with a strike rate of over 173, including three half-centuries and a top score of 79*.
Future Aspirations for World Cup Success
Having already helped India win their first ICC Women's World Cup title earlier this year, Harmanpreet is now focused on adding the T20 World Cup title to her accomplishments. The upcoming women's T20 World Cup is set for June-July next year in the UK, where India will contend in a difficult Group A alongside Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan, with two additional teams yet to be confirmed.
With her record-setting leadership and a squad in excellent form, Harmanpreet Kaur's India is on track for another monumental title on the international stage.
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