Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur made her One Day International debut in 2009 at the age of 20. She was part of the Indian’s Women’s Cricket team in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017. The Indian team performed brilliantly throughout 2017 Women’s World Cup.

Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeatable 177 runs off 115 balls against Australia in the semifinal of 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup. She is the record holder of the highest individual score for India in the history of Women’s World Cup. She is known for her hard-hitting style.

For her excellent performance in Cricket, Kaur was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2017.

Family Background

Harmanpreet Kaur was born in Moga district of Punjab on 8 March 1989. She was born to baptised Sikh parents Harmandar Singh Bhullar and Satwinder Kaur.

Her family includes her father who was a clerk at Judicial courts and was a basketball & volleyball player, her mother, her sister Hemjeet who works as a Assistant Professor at Guru Nanak College, Moga, and her two brothers.

Her school authorities advised her family to admit her to a cricket academy. She trained at Gian Jyoti School Academy which was 30kms away from her residence.

Later, she went to Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya (HMV) in Jalandhar. In 2014, Kaur moved to Mumbai, before Railways offered her a job.

Career

With an unsurpassed passion for cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur started playing at a young age. In 2009, she made her One Day International debut at the age of 20 against Pakistan in Women’s Cricket World Cup. Harmanpreet Kaur is an all rounder and is inspired by Virendra Sehwag.

She is a right hand bats-woman and a right arm medium fast bowler. She started playing cricket at a young age in the streets of Duneke Village in the Moga district of Punjab.

She used to play cricket with boys. Her passion for the game has taken her to the international level. Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2017 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Her extraordinary knock of unbeatable 171 runs off 115 balls helped India to win the semi-final against Australia in 2017 Women’s World Cup in Derby.

Her 171* was the third highest World Cup score and fifth highest overall. In 2016, she was signed by an overseas Twenty20 franchise, Sydney Thunder, thus becoming the first Indian Cricketer to play in the Big Bash League.

In 2011, when Harmanpreet was in dire need of a job, her job application was rejected by Punjab Police despite playing for India for the last two years then.

In 2013, she was named ODI captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team.

Achievements

At the age of 20, Kaur made her One Day International (ODI) debut in 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup against Pakistan.
She played an extraordinary inning of unbeaten 177 runs against Australia in the semifinal of 2017 Women’s World Cup.
In the history of Women’s World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur holds the record of the highest individual score for India.
She became the first Indian cricketer to be signed by an overseas Twenty20 franchise, Sydney Thunder, in 2016.
In January 2016, she scored 46 runs off 31 balls and helped India win the series in Australia, which was India’s highest ever chase in T20 Internationals.
She was named ODI captain of Indian Women’s team in 2013 when India was host to Bangladesh’s Women’s Cricket team.
In 2012, Kaur was named Indian Women’s team captain for the 2012 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup Final.
Harmanpreet Kaur made her Twenty20 international debut in the 2009 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 against England’s Women’s Cricket Team.

Awards

Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award for her outstanding achievement in Cricket by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2017