Harmanpreet Kaur creates history: first cricketer to play 200 T20Is
India women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Sunday became the first player—in either men's or women's cricket—to appear in 200 Twenty20 International matches. The milestone was achieved during India's ICC Women's T20 World Cup group-stage match against South Africa at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England.
Harmanpreet, who made her international debut in March 2009 in an ODI against Pakistan, played her first T20I against England in June 2009 at Taunton. Over the course of her career, she has established herself as one of the most accomplished batters in the women's game, known for her powerful strokeplay and leadership.
Before the start of the match, Harmanpreet was presented with a special jersey and cap bearing the number '200' by India head coach Amol Muzumdar and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana during a team huddle. The honour recognised her longevity and consistency at the highest level.
In her milestone match, Harmanpreet scored 24 runs off 19 balls. India's innings, however, struggled for momentum, with the top order failing to capitalise. The team slipped to 83 for 4 after the dismissals of Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Yastika Bhatia. At the time of writing, India were 116 for 5 after 16 overs.
The record is a testament to Harmanpreet's enduring contribution to cricket, having played a pivotal role in popularising the women's game and inspiring a generation of cricketers in India and beyond.
