Harmanpreet Kaur is an Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. She is an all-rounder, i.e., she is a good batswoman and bowler.
She created history in 2018 by becoming the first Indian woman to have scored a century in a T20 International match. She is famous for her leadership and cricket skills.
HarmanPreet Kaur Personal Information
| Attributes | Details |
| Full Name | Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar |
| Date of Birth | 8th March 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Moga, Punjab, India |
| Height (Approximately) | 5’ 3” Inches (160 Centimeters) |
| Weight (Approximately) | 54 Kg (119 Lbs) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Boyfriends/Affairs | NA |
| International Debut | Test- 13 August 2014 vs England Women in WormsleyODI- 7 March 2009 vs Pakistan Women in BowralT20- 11 June 2009 vs England Women in Taunton |
| Jersey Number | #84 (India) #45 (Sydney Thunder) |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Medium Fast |
| Batting Style | Right-Handed Bat |
| State/Domestic Teams | Leicestershire Women, Punjab Women, Railways Women, Sydney Thunder |
Family Members
- Father: Harmandar Singh Bhullar (Clerk at Court)
- Mother: Satwinder Kaur
- Sister: Hemjeet Kaur
- Brothers (2): Gurjinder Bhullar; Rajwinder Bhullar
Early Life and Education
Harmanpreet Kaur was born in Moga, Punjab, to a sports family. Her father, Harmandar Singh Bhullar, played volleyball and basketball, and her mother, Satwinder Kaur, is a housewife. Her father was also her first coach when she began playing cricket. He had previously aspired to be a cricketer but later became a clerk in a court. Harman’s younger sister, Hemjeet, is a teacher at Guru Nanak College in Moga.
Harman began her career in cricket as a member of the Gian Jyoti School Academy, located 30 kilometers from her place of residence. She trained at the academy with Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi. She shared the field with men during the early stages.
She relocated to Mumbai in 2014 and joined the Indian Railways, where she became an employee. Harman idolized renowned cricketer Virender Sehwag and was encouraged to play the game by him.
As for her schooling, she stated that she studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree at Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, but subsequent inquiries located no evidence of her enrollment on that campus. Some stories indicate she truly studied at Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya in Jalandhar, Punjab.
Career Overview
Harmanpreet Kaur has enjoyed a sensational career in women’s cricket, becoming one of the greatest and most recognized players in India. She began playing cricket at an early age and rose to fame very soon for her strong batting and leadership abilities.
She first played in 2009, representing her first One Day International (ODI) against Pakistan at the Women’s World Cup. She surprised everyone by bowling well and also taking a catch in that game. She then played her debut Twenty20 International (T20I) game against England later the same year.
Harman’s career saw her develop as a solid all-rounder, both as a batswoman and a bowler. In 2010, she demonstrated her batting strength by scoring 33 runs against England in a T20I match. Her leadership skills were noted when she was appointed captain of the Indian women’s team for the 2012 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup final, in which India defended a low total to win the championship.
She was appointed the captain of the Indian women’s team in ODIs in 2013, during a series against Bangladesh. She played well in that series, scoring 195 runs including a century and a half-century, and also taking two wickets. She kept getting better, and in 2014, she played a major role in India’s win against South Africa, taking 9 wickets in a Test match.
One of her biggest moments in her career was in 2017 while playing the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Harman delivered an unforgettable knock of 171 against Australia in the semi-final, which stood as the second-highest individual score by an Indian woman in ODIs. She was the first Indian female to register the highest individual score in a Women’s World Cup knockout game. Even though India lost the final to England, her incredible performance during that game made her a household name. Towards the end of that year, she was placed among the top 10 ODI players across the globe.
In 2018, Harman created history once again when she became the first Indian female cricketer to make a century in a Women’s T20I game. She did this in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in the West Indies, when she made 103 runs in 51 balls in the first match against New Zealand. Her leadership qualities were also brought to the fore as she led India during the 2018 T20 World Cup.
She has been displaying her talent in international leagues over the years. In 2016, she became the first Indian female to represent an overseas T20 franchise when she signed up with the Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League. She also impressed in the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, guiding India to a solid performance.
In 2021, she became the fifth Indian female to have played 100 ODIs. She has also represented teams in various T20 leagues, such as the Women’s Big Bash League and The Hundred, where she achieved international recognition. In 2022, Harman captained India to the Commonwealth Games cricket tournament, where they achieved a good performance.
In February 2023, she was acquired by Mumbai Indians in the first Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction. She guided the team to success, leading them to win the first-ever WPL title. Harmanpreet Kaur is now an inspiration to countless young cricketers, celebrated for her captaincy, batting, and resilience on and off the pitch.
Career Statistics
| Competition | WTest | WODI | WT20I | WBBL |
| Matches Played | 3 | 135 | 177 | 48 |
| Total Runs Scored | 38 | 3648 | 3576 | 1119 |
| Batting Average | 7.60 | 38.00 | 29.07 | 41.44 |
| Centuries / Fifties | 0 / 0 | 6 / 19 | 1 / 14 | 0 / 6 |
| Highest Score | 17 | 171 | 103 | 81 |
| Balls Bowled | 296 | 1712 | 760 | 432 |
| Wickets Taken | 9 | 31 | 32 | 27 |
| Bowling Average | 13.55 | 48.64 | 24.84 | 19.96 |
| 5 Wickets in an Innings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 Wickets in a Match | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/44 | 2/16 | 4/23 | 4/27 |
| Catches / Stumpings | 0 / – | 45 / – | 56 / 0 | 23 / 0 |
Medal Records
| Event | Year | Location | Medal | Team |
| ODI World Cup | 2017 | England & Wales | Second place | Team |
| T20 World Cup | 2020 | Australia | Second place | Team |
| Commonwealth Games | 2022 | Birmingham | Silver medal | Team |
| Asian Games | 2022 | Hangzhou | Gold medal | Team |
| Asia Cup | 2012 | China | First place | Team |
| Asia Cup | 2016 | Thailand | First place | Team |
| Asia Cup | 2022 | Bangladesh | First place | Team |
| Asia Cup | 2018 | Malaysia | Second place | Team |
| Asia Cup | 2024 | Sri Lanka | Second place | Team |
Controversies
- In 2017, Harmanpreet Kaur was penalized for damaging cricket gear during a match against Hobart Hurricanes, contrary to the regulations of Cricket Australia.
- In 2023, she was suspended for two matches and 75% of her pay was fined for terming the umpire as “blind” after being dismissed during a match played against Bangladesh.
Some Facts About Harmanpreet Kaur
- In 2010, when Harmanpreet Kaur needed a job, the Punjab Government didn’t take her job application seriously.
- Three years later, after Sachin Tendulkar recommended her, the Maharashtra Government gave her a job with the Mumbai division of Western Railways.
- In February 2017, Harmanpreet hit a six on the last ball of the game to win a World Cup Qualifier match for India, just like MS Dhoni did in his famous match.
- To make up for the earlier mistake, Punjab’s Chief Minister offered Harmanpreet a job in the Punjab Police and promised to review the state’s sports policies.
