In a landmark moment for Indian women’s cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur has etched her name in history by becoming the player with the most international matches in women’s cricket. This feat was achieved during the second T20I against Australia at Manuka Oval in Canberra on February 19.
Kaur’s 356th international appearance surpassed New Zealand legend Suzie Bates’ tally of 355 matches. She now stands ahead of Australia’s Ellyse Perry (349 matches) and former Indian skipper Mithali Raj (333 matches), with England’s Charlotte Edwards at 309 in the top five.
Debuting in 2009, Harmanpreet’s illustrious career spans 6 Tests, 161 ODIs, and 189 T20Is. Her leadership has been pivotal, guiding India to their first Women’s ODI World Cup triumph in 2025 and a recent T20I series win in England. Earlier this month, she was honored with the Padma Shri for her contributions to Indian cricket.
The series opener in Sydney set the tone for India’s dominance. Australia crumbled to 133 all out in 18 overs, with Georgia Wareham top-scoring on 30 off 19 balls and Phoebe Litchfield adding 26. India’s Arundhati Reddy claimed 4 wickets, supported by Sree Charani and Renuka Thakur with two each.
Chasing a revised target amid rain, India raced to victory in 5.1 overs before the match was called off under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern rules. Shefali Verma smashed 21, while Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 16. This win gave India a 1-0 lead in the multi-format series, boosting morale ahead of tougher challenges.
Harmanpreet’s milestone not only highlights her longevity but also inspires a new generation of cricketers in India, where women’s cricket continues to rise on the global stage.