What did you do on your last birthday?
There could be many exciting responses to that question, but India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has set the bar too high for this one (just like she does for every thing else).
Born on this day in 1989, she is leading her country to the final of the T20 World Cup for the first time in history.
Harmanpreet Kaur will be leading India in the ICC Women’s T20 CWC final on her 31st birthday. (March 8th)
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 5, 2020
It will be the first-ever instance of a captain leading his/her team on birthday in any ICC World event final [ODI/T20I/U19 CWCs, Champions Trophy]. #ICCT20WorldCup
This, of course, is the stuff dreams are made of, and Harmanpreet doesn’t want any thing on her special day except that elusive World Cup trophy.
#WomensDay2020 👸
— Avi_nashᴰᵒᶜᵗᵒʳ ᴬʸᵃˡᵃᵃⁿ (@im_avi_nash_) March 8, 2020
Indian woman’s team captain #HarmanpreetKaur birthday
On this special day, Wishing the best to #IndianWomensTeam for big win in #T20WorldCup Finals
Chalo….let’s do it 💪@Siva_Kartikeyan @Arunrajakamaraj @SKProdOffl#kanaa pic.twitter.com/YSi6h2EIua
She was part of the squad that missed out on the World Cup victory in 2017 by 9 runs. She still carries that pain inside her.
On the bright side though, she was also the part of the playing 11 in the semi-final of the same tournament and single-handedly stopped Australia (opponents for the final) from proceeding by playing her iconic 171-run innings.
In 2017, Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171* stopped Australia, hunting back-to-back world titles, in their tracks.
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 7, 2020
Could a similar performance see India seal a maiden #T20WorldCup title?#FILLTHEMCG https://t.co/ZEctLKH9tc
If India win the tournament today, it will be the women team’s first World Cup trophy and God knows we have waited for it.
Harmanpreet, most of all.
Interestingly enough, she made her T20I debut at the World Cup in 2009, which was the inaugural edition of the tournament.
⭐ 11 June, 2009: Harmanpreet Kaur makes her T20I debut in the inaugural edition of the #T20WorldCup
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) March 7, 2020
⭐ 8 March 2020: Harmanpreet Kaur to lead India in their maiden #T20WorldCup final, on her birthday!
What a story 🙌 pic.twitter.com/EDX4IYPvVo
11 years on, the same girl is the captain of the side, owing to her masterclass performances through the years which is as inspiring as it gets.
Yes, her form in the tournament has been a matter of concern, as she has not been able to contribute much with the bat – but there is no denying that her role as the captain has been very important and she has performed that very well.
It’s no joke that the team that has reached the final unbeaten, right?
🔸 4580 international runs
— ICC (@ICC) March 8, 2020
🔸 61 international wickets
🔸 First 🇮🇳 cricketer to play💯T20Is
Happy Birthday, Harmanpreet Kaur 🎂
Can she lead India to their maiden women’s @T20WorldCup title today?#T20WorldCup | #FillTheMCG | #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/O97T0faSLT