Women's T20 World Cup; Harmanpreet Kaur: The Tragic Hero of India who deserved a lot more

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It promised so much, but ended up with despair - the aforementioned term can quite simply depict Harmanpreet Kaur and her fate when it comes to major tournaments.

India women made another agonising exit from another ICC tournament on Thursday (February 23), this time after losing by just 5 runs against Australia in the semi-final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has always been one of the most sorted players in the squad. And before the semi-final against Australia, there was a lot of hope in the team and in her. But illness struck in the Indian camp and Harmanpreet was also affected. She had a fever and was having some cold-related issues, but was adamant to play in a monumental clash.

And when Australia posted another 170+ score, things were banking a lot on Harmanpreet, yet again. India made the worst start as Shafali Verma (9), Smriti Mandhana (2) and Yastika Bhatia (4) departed cheaply, leaving the team reeling at 28/3.

But there she was again, India's adored captain, who took the onus on herself to steer the ship away from the iceberg. She was batting fluently, taking quick singles, putting away the boundaries. Both Harmanpreet and Jemimah stitched a fantastic partnership and India were looking on course to beat Australia and reach the final. Although Jemimah departed, but Harmanpreet continued her exquisite batting to complete her fifty.

India needed 48 in the last six overs, and the game was in the balance. But then the mishap happened, that broke the hearts of India.

Harmanpreer Run-Out:

In the fourth ball of the 15th over, after scoring 8 runs in the first three balls, Harmanpreet played a slog-sweep towards deep mid-wicket. It was an easy two and India's skipper was jogging back as she knew it would be an easy second run. But at the final moment of completing the run, Harmanpreet's bat got stuck just before the crease and her feet were in the air. The Aussie keeper uprooted the stumps and the replay showed she was short of her crease.

Thus the dreams of India shattered. The Indian captain was seeming distraught and livid with herself, but in her defense, it was an enormously unlucky incident which made her suffer at the worst moment. Harmanpreet got run-out for the first time in almost five years, and it couldn't have come at a worse time.

After the loss, she was emotional and her trembling voice, coupled with a sun-glass to hide her tears can only create one question in mind, how much more suffering the almighty has kept for Harmanpreet Kaur?

India and their woeful Exits:

It was the 4th time the Indian women's team made a heartbreaking exit in the penultimate rounds of a major cricketing tournament in the last five years, with Harmanpreet Kaur leading the side.

Women's T20 WC 2018: Semi-Final

Women's T20 WC 2020: Final

Commonwealth Games 2022: Final

Women's T20 WC 2023: Semi-Final

Harmanpreet, now 33, has seen it all and still has managed to pull herself up and has led the Indian side with immense quality. But this loss against Australia will feel like a personal one. She had it all in front of her, and somehow the cruel saga of her story took another downward turn to make it all a miserable one again.

The entire nation felt the tears, and the entire team cried with their captain, but one thing for sure, this heartbreak will make Harmanpreet and her troops even stronger.

"I promise, we will improve and won't let our nation down like this again," she said after the match.

Harmanpreet Kaur deserves a lot more. The numbers, her performances will clearly tell you that story. Indian women's cricket team has taken giant leaps in the last few years and she has been a focal character of that upsurge.

The chapters of her career make Harmanpreet a tragic hero so far, but it only takes one day to turn the pages and write a new story. More power to Harmanpreet Kaur, surely, she will prevail.