Harmanpreet Kaur delivered a captain’s innings of the highest quality, scoring a superb 94 to anchor India Women’s batting effort and set up a commanding total in the first ODI against Sri Lanka Women. Falling just short of a century, Harmanpreet’s knock was nonetheless the defining performance of the innings, blending authority, composure, and game awareness in a display that underlined her importance to India’s ODI setup.
Walking in at a crucial stage, Harmanpreet brought immediate stability to the crease. India had a solid platform, but the innings needed direction and control to convert that start into a truly imposing total. Harmanpreet provided exactly that, settling quickly and reading the conditions with clarity. Rather than forcing the pace early, she focused on timing and placement, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking without unnecessary risks.
Her innings was built on balance. Against pace, she showed patience and precision, picking gaps through the off side and punishing overpitched deliveries with crisp drives. Against spin, she used her feet confidently, breaking the bowlers’ lengths and disrupting Sri Lanka’s plans to slow the scoring rate. This adaptability ensured that no phase of the innings stagnated.
As Harmanpreet moved through the gears, her intent became more pronounced. The middle overs saw her take greater responsibility, rotating strike efficiently while selectively targeting boundary options. Her shot selection was a standout feature — calculated aggression rather than blind hitting. This allowed India to maintain momentum while keeping wickets in hand.
The partnership-building aspect of her innings was just as important as the runs themselves. Harmanpreet ensured that batters around her played with freedom, absorbing pressure and dictating terms. Sri Lanka’s bowlers found it increasingly difficult to apply sustained control, as Harmanpreet consistently found ways to disrupt their rhythm.
Approaching her century, Harmanpreet remained composed, showing no signs of rushing milestones. Ironically, it was this selflessness that led to her dismissal on 94, as she attempted to push India’s total even further rather than slow down to secure three figures. While the missed century was momentarily disappointing, the impact of her innings was undeniable.
Her dismissal did little to slow India’s charge. By that point, the damage had already been done. The platform Harmanpreet created allowed India to accelerate in the final overs, lifting the total to a commanding 287/6 — a score that immediately put Sri Lanka under pressure.
Beyond the numbers, this innings highlighted Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership. She paced the innings expertly, understood match situations, and led from the front in a format where experience and composure are critical. Her knock sent a strong message about India Women’s intent in the series.
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