Indian cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur recently captured hearts by sharing her Player of the Match trophy with young pacer Kranti Gaud after India women secured a 2-1 ODI series victory over England.
A Gesture from the Heart
Following India’s impressive 13-run win in the final ODI at Chester-le-Street, Harmanpreet Kaur was rightly named both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series. However, it was her extraordinary act of generosity that truly stood out.
She chose to share her Player of the Match award with 21-year-old Kranti Gaud, acknowledging her exceptional bowling performance. Harmanpreet’s gesture was widely praised, highlighting her leadership and mentorship.
“I have got the player of the match. I want to share it with Kranti because she bowled one of the best spells of her career,” Harmanpreet stated in a video shared by BCCI. “I think it’s a great achievement as a bowler. For an Indian team, for such fast bowlers, we have been dying for that.”
She further added, “She has brought the experience from WPL and domestic and is executing herself here. I think she deserves to share this. I am really happy for this ball.”
Kranti Gaud’s Stellar Impact
Kranti Gaud, a promising young pacer, proved to be instrumental in India’s victory. Her clinical bowling spell saw her bag an impressive six wickets, which significantly contributed to India’s win and ultimately sealed the series.
Her performance was a testament to her growing talent and composure under pressure, making her a deserving recipient of Harmanpreet’s shared honor.
Harmanpreet’s Dominant Performance
While sharing the spotlight, Harmanpreet Kaur herself delivered a masterclass with the bat. She recorded her seventh ODI century, reaching the milestone in just 82 balls. Her brilliant innings propelled India to a formidable total of 318 runs.
During her outstanding knock, she also crossed the significant milestone of 4000 ODI runs, further cementing her status as one of India’s cricketing legends.
A Series Win to Remember
The series victory over England was a momentous occasion for the Indian women’s team. Harmanpreet expressed her happiness with the team’s overall performance throughout the series, highlighting their collective effort.
“Great moment for all of us. Happy with the way we played throughout the series,” she remarked after the match. “We are giving our best on the field and gelling well as a team. Whenever they get an opportunity, they want to grab it with both hands and I am happy that we are getting to see the results now.”
The Influence of WPL
Harmanpreet also emphasized the positive impact of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on young talents like Kranti Gaud and left-arm spinner Shree Charani, who has also been consistently impressive.
“Both (Shree Charani and Kranti Goud) of them got good experience in WPL and that is where we thought that if we give them an opportunity, they will do well for the country as well,” she explained. “This series win means a lot to us. Credit goes to our fielding coach (Munish Bali), he has been working really hard.”
- Harmanpreet Kaur shared her Player of the Match trophy with Kranti Gaud.
- Kranti Gaud took six wickets, playing a key role in India’s series win.
- Harmanpreet herself scored a century and crossed 4000 ODI runs.
- The Women’s Premier League is proving crucial in developing young Indian talent.
This remarkable act of sportsmanship by Harmanpreet not only celebrated individual brilliance but also underscored the growing camaraderie and support within the Indian women’s cricket team.
