Harmanpreet Kaur fights back tears as she rediscovers joy in batting

Harmanpreet Kaur had just produced one of her most commanding innings in recent times, but it was not the runs that nearly brought her to tears. During a mid-innings interview in Raipur, the former India captain spoke about wanting to enjoy her batting again, and her voice carried the weight of a difficult phase as she thanked WV Raman for a simple piece of advice: play the way you want to.

The moment offered a glimpse into the significance of Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 91 off just 41 balls against Zimbabwe on Tuesday. At 37, the veteran batter has experienced the highs of leading India and delivering match-winning performances, but her latest innings was about rediscovering the freedom to play her natural game.

India vs Zimbabwe, 3rd T20I: Highlights | Scorecard

“Just wanted to enjoy myself, just wanted to bat as long as possible, and glad that I was able to do that,” Harmanpreet said during the mid-innings interview.

The emotional moment came when she credited WV Raman who was also the interviewer, for his words of encouragement.

“The moment we came, you stepped in and you said, ‘Now you do what you want to do,’ and that’s what I want to do, and really want to enjoy myself. Thanks for those words,” she told him.

It was a revealing admission from a player who has spent years carrying the expectations that come with being one of India’s most recognisable cricketers. For Harmanpreet, the immediate priority was not to prove a point or make a statement. She simply wanted to spend time in the middle and enjoy batting again.

FINDING HER FREEDOM

FINDING HER RHYTHM

The performance that followed her emotional interview was a reminder of what Harmanpreet can produce when she finds her touch. She struck 10 fours and five sixes, powering India to 216 for seven in the third and final Women’s T20I against Zimbabwe. India eventually secured a 92-run victory to complete a 3-0 series sweep.

Speaking after the match, Harmanpreet returned to the same theme, expressing satisfaction at finally getting time at the crease and seeing the runs come.

“I enjoyed myself in the middle. This is what I’m here for. I just want to enjoy my batting and good that those runs came,” she said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

The innings began with an early boundary that helped her settle. Harmanpreet felt the pitch was good and her bat was coming through nicely, giving her the confidence to keep attacking rather than overthink her approach.

“Well, I think the first ball when I hit for a four, that time I realised it’s a good pitch and bat was coming nicely to the ball and I think I got a lot of confidence from that shot and then I just thought, let me just, you know, keep going and let’s see how it goes,” she explained.

The freedom she spoke about was backed by work in the nets. Harmanpreet credited batting coach Himanshu for helping her work on her technique after the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, particularly her bat swing, which she considers central to her game.

“Well, I think bat swing is something which is my key, and I just want to keep doing that, keep repeating that in the nets,” she said.

Harmanpreet also praised her coach for understanding the kind of batter she could be and for recreating match pressure during training sessions. The idea was to make the demands of a real contest feel less overwhelming.

“Every time when we met, when we spent time in the nets, he just wants me to keep feeling that same pressure in the nets so that when I’m playing the match, I should not feel any extra pressure, and I think his tactics, his thoughts worked really well,” she said.

A NEW CHAPTER

Harmanpreet’s innings has arrived at a significant point in her career. She stepped down as India’s captain across formats ahead of the Zimbabwe series, with Smriti Mandhana taking over the leadership. The transition marks a new phase for a player who has spent years balancing her own performances with the responsibilities of leading the national side.

However, her emotional response in Raipur should not be read simply as a reaction to the captaincy change. Her comments were centred on her batting, the support she received and the importance of enjoying her time at the crease. The relief appeared to come from finding a way to trust her game again.

For India, that is an encouraging development. Harmanpreet remains an experienced middle-order batter capable of changing the course of a match, and her ability to find form will matter as the team moves into a busy stretch of international cricket.

The three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe begins in Vadodara on October 23, giving her another opportunity to build on the confidence gained in Raipur.

One innings cannot erase a difficult run of form, but Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 91 offered a timely reminder of her ability and the value of patience, preparation and support. She attacked with conviction, trusted her instincts and looked increasingly comfortable as her innings progressed.

The numbers told the story of a dominant performance. The emotion in her interview revealed something more personal: the importance of rediscovering the joy that first drew her to the game.

For Harmanpreet, the next chapter is no longer about leading India. It is about finding her rhythm, trusting her preparation and continuing to make an impact with the bat. In Raipur, she took a significant step towards doing just that.

– Ends