Cricket is everything to me, I wouldn't be anything without it: Harmanpreet Kaur

Indian women's cricket team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur recently shared some insights into her cricketing career and the sport's significance in her life. Her revelation paints a picture of dedication, growth, and a changing environment in Indian women's cricket.

For Kaur, cricket is not just a sport; it's a lifeline. The emotional connection to the game was evident as she recalled the first time she wore the Indian jersey, struggling to decide whether to share the moment first with her parents or her coach.

"Cricket, I think, is everything to me. Without cricket, I don't think I would be anything. The name that cricket has given me, no other field could have given it to me. So I think, for me, cricket is like a god. Whatever I dreamt of in my childhood, whatever I dreamt of while playing, everything has been given to me by cricket," she told exclusively to Star Sports.

Her maiden India call-up jersey was a special moment for the right-hand batter and an emotional moment for her parents and coach alike, who played a huge role in her life.

"I can say off-field, when I held the Indian jersey for the first time, I took a photo after wearing it for the first time, and I was just thinking about who deserves this photo first. Should I send it to my parents, or the coach who gave me this platform, who gave me admission to his school, and said, 'I will start cricket in school for you,' should I send it to him? So I was so confused, who should I send first, because both were equally important to me," she added.

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It felt like we were playing a little scared cricket: Harmanpreet Kaur

Kaur's contribution of 66 off 47 balls was instrumental in this achievement. Kaur also revealed a significant shift in the team's approach over the past 7-8 years.

"Before, it felt like we were playing a little scared cricket. When things didn't go according to our plan, we used to get scared very quickly, but now we play a little brave cricket, so we make brave decisions. With time, we have forced people to come to the stadium through our performance," the skipper further added.

Kaur's leadership philosophy emphasizes aggressive play and brave decision-making. This approach was evident in the match against UAE, where despite early setbacks, the team managed to post a record-breaking score. The captain's partnership with Richa Ghosh, who scored a blistering 64 off 29 balls, exemplified this new, fearless brand of cricket.

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The success of the Indian women's cricket team under Kaur's captaincy is not just about winning matches. It's about changing perceptions and inspiring a new generation of cricketers.

"In the last 7-8 years, our team's performance has been very good. Even before that, we used to play cricket, but we weren't able to win so many tournaments, and we weren't able to play such impressive cricket. So we always discuss that if there are two options, we will always choose the aggressive option," she concluded.