Harmanpreet Kaur hits fastest T20 World Cup fifty for India Women, Sanjay Manjrekar and others react

Add as a preferred source on Google

Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front and hit the fastest fifty by an India Women batter in the history of Women's T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, October 5.

The India Women brought up her very crucial fifty off just 27 balls to help India post 172/3 - the highest team total in the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE.

The previous record for the fastest fifty by an India Women batter in Women's T20 World Cup was held by opener and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who had scored a 31-ball fifty in the 2018 edition against Australia.

Fastest fifties for IND Women in Women's T20 World Cup

• 27 - Harmanpreet Kaur vs SL-W, Dubai, 2024
• 31 - Smriti Mandhana vs AUS-W, Guyana, 2018
• 32 - Harmanpreet Kaur vs AUS-W, Cape Town, 2023
• 33 - Harmanpeet Kaur vs NZ-W, Guyana, 2018
• 36 - Mithali Raj vs SL-W, Basseterre, 2010

This was also Harmanpreet's fastest fifty in the format. Her previous fastest T20I fifty came of 29 balls against the same opponent at Katunayake in 2018.

With one eye on the Net Run Rate (NRR), India Women were eyeing to post a big total after winning the toss and electing to bat first in their third match of the ongoing ICC showpiece event. The run rate took a hit after the dismissals of openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma on successive deliveries in the 13th over.

From 98/0 in 12.3 overs, India Women found themselves struggling at 128/3 in 16.2 overs, but Harmanpreet peaked at the right time and smashed seven fours off the remaining 25 deliveries. Her innings also consisted of a 84 metre six- the longest in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 so far.

The knock mesmerised many including former India cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur. He termed her 'India's number one batter by a distance'.

"I know there are some talented batters around, but Harmanpreet Kaur is India's number one batter by a distance!
Another fantastic innings tonight!" he wrote on X.

Here's is how others reacted: