Is Harmanpreet Kaur to blame for India’s loss against South Africa? After a poor show with the ball and in the field, the Women in Blue needed to chase a mammoth total of 190. With Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet herself in great form, coming from a resounding victory in the one-off Test, any total on what an unusually flat Chepauk pitch could be chaseable.
Powerplay boom, middle-overs doom
Smriti and Shafali started great. In no time, they were 54/0 after 5 overs. The required rate was under control, with the vice-captain doing most of the heavy lifting. But, as soon as Shafali fell for 14, the runs dried—the run rate went from 11 to 8.7 at the halfway mark. Only 23 runs were scored, and two wickets fell.
With 103 runs needed in 10 overs, Harmanpreet arrived in the middle. Despite her poor form in T20Is, she had an incredible performance in the WPL, which could easily be labeled as one of the greatest T20 innings ever. With Smriti gone, all hopes were pinned on her.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s T20I record in 2024
| Inn | Runs | Avg | 50s/100s |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 149 | 24.83 | 1 |
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Harmanpreet Kaur’s struggles
With Jemimah Rodrigues by her side, it was understood that she would have to do the heavy lifting. But it turned out to be completely opposite. With 24 balls left, Jemimah was 26(17) while Harmanpreet was striking at less than a run-a-ball, 16(18). Rodrigues continued to give hope, reching her fifty in just 29 balls while the Indian skipper struggled.
A couple of hits in the end saved grace, and she ended with a 120 strike rate, but Harmanpreet and Dayalan Hemalatha’s slow knocks are the biggest reason for the IND vs SA Women 1st T20I loss. The pitch was batter-friendly, and it was evident how even South African bowlers failed to get hold of things, but today wasn’t to be for India or Harmanpreet.
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