Harmanpreet Kaur produced another batting masterclass in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), blasting an unbeaten 95 off just 48 balls to power Mumbai Indians to a seven-wicket win over Gujarat Giants. But it was her amusing post-match revelation that stole the show.
The Indian T20 captain cheekily mentioned that the match referee inspected her bat after the game, almost suspecting her of foul play given her monstrous hitting display. 10 fours and 5 sixes had flown off Harmanpreet’s willow in a blistering assault.
“He was checking my bat as if I had done something to it!” Harmanpreet laughed while speaking to the broadcaster.
The 34-year-old then explained it was no specialty bat, but actually her practice willow that had felt grippier during the pre-match drills. So she decided to go set upon Gujarat’s bowling with her training blade.
Harmanpreet’s tongue-in-cheek comments reflected the lighter side of her personality, balancing her ruthless on-field intensity with a fun-loving spirit off it. Despite playing perhaps her greatest WPL knockout thus far, she was quick to shrug off any mystery behind her incredible shots.
“I just played with a good rhythm and the runs kept flowing,” she said with a smile about her 95* that lifted Mumbai from 28/3 to the 162-run target.
Her brutal yet elegant stroke-making has been a trademark for years in Indian colors. But in the WPL, Harmanpreet is revealing glimpses of a humorous edge to her game persona as well.
From smashing bowlers to amusing officials after the final ball, the Indian icon is showcasing the full package of entertainment through her WPL exploits. As her team looks to claim the inaugural title, fans are being treated to Harmanpreet’s pure batting genius and vibrant personality in equal measure.
