HARMANPREET KAUR

Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar stands as one of India’s most influential sports figures, having led the national women’s cricket team to its first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title in November 2025. Known for her fearless batting and tactical awareness, she has become a defining force in the global cricket arena and a symbol of India’s rise in women’s sport.

Her story began in Moga, Punjab, where she trained at the Gian Jyoti School Academy under her father’s encouragement. Playing cricket with boys to sharpen her skills, Harmanpreet soon built a reputation for her aggressive all-round game. She represented Punjab and Railways in domestic cricket before breaking barriers in 2016 as the first Indian woman to sign with an overseas T20 franchise, the Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League.

Her debut season earned her the Player of the Tournament title, an early sign of her international impact. At just 20, she made her international debut during the 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup. Since then, her journey has been defined by career-shaping performances, including her unbeaten 171 runs off 115 balls against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final, an innings that changed the visibility of women’s cricket in India.

As captain, she has led India through multiple breakthroughs, including a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2022 Asian Games. In the Women’s Premier League, Harmanpreet has led the Mumbai Indians to two championship titles (2023 and 2025), becoming the first captain to achieve this.

Her presence at the crease and her leadership off the field have turned her into an inspiration for a new generation of cricketers who look up to her not only for her sporting success but also for the way she has changed perceptions of women’s cricket in India.