Harmanpreet rises to the occasion at the WPL with her knock propping up with bursts of brute strength when needed.
Another WPL night, another star turn – it’s ‘the Harmanpreet Kaur era’.
“Everyone is blessed that they are getting to see the Harmanpreet Kaur era.”
After their captain scored a second consecutive undefeated half-century to secure her team’s second consecutive victory, it was the other Mumbai Indians (MI) Kaur, all-rounder Amanjot. She might also be correct.
Harmanpreet guided MI to their second WPL championship the previous year. She recently guided India to their first World Cup victory. She is currently the WPL 2026’s top run scorer.
At the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday, MI defeated Gujarat Giants (GG) in the second-highest chase in the WPL thanks to Harmanpreet’s 71 not out off 43 balls. Even after losing both of their openers in the powerplay, MI’s victory was never in doubt despite the challenging 193-run goal. It was a knock that was perfectly timed and exuded control and clarity.
With the scoreboard showing 37 for 2 in the fifth over, Harmanpreet joined forces with Amanjot, who was batting in a new position at No. 3 due to Nat Sciver-Brunt’s unavailability for the match.
Amanjot took the lead in a 72-run partnership, while the MI skipper first played second fiddle. Harmanpreet scored 33 off 23 while Amanjot scored 38 off 20.
MI’s asking rate was getting close to eleven at the end of the eighth over. However, Harmanpreet easily reached 18 off 16 as Amanjot targeted Georgia Wareham and Tanuja Kanwar. She then made the decision to partake in the enjoyment.
After giving up just 12 runs for a wicket in her first two overs, Renuka Singh was brought back into the attack in the eleventh over. Harmanpreet, however, made what may have been the game’s best shot when she overpitched. She took a large step forward, dipped low and dragged her hands through the line, lofting the ball over mid-off for her maiden six.
Harmanpreet has a good matchup with Ashleigh Gardner, but she took a chance and brought herself on to bowl the following over. On her fourth ball, Harmanpreet played another stroke that had the audience cheering. Reminiscent of a shot she made for India against Gardner in the 2025 ODI World Cup semi-final, Harmanpreet danced down the track and blasted the offspinner over cow corner.
Gardner, who has yet to reach her allotted overs in any game this season, did not bowl again that evening. Perhaps the shot brought back bitter memories for her, or more realistically, the match-up played on her mind.
Harmanpreet offered another chance at the end of the 19th over, but Soni gave her another reprieve, before the MI captain sealed their highest ever chase with a boundary in the final over.
In addition to surpassing Meg Lanning to rank second in the competition’s all-time run charts, behind Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet is now the first Indian to reach 1000 runs in the WPL. Additionally, MI will want their captain to maintain her incredible form because they have won all ten of the times she has scored a fifty.
And if she does, nobody will be shocked.