Harmanpreet Kaur earns spot on TIME's Emerging Leaders list

India Women’s team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is among three Indians who were named in TIME magazine as the top 100 emerging leaders shaping the world. The list released on Wednesday, September 13, features the likes of Nandita Venkatesan and Vinu Daniel apart from skipper Harmanpreet.

The magazine highlighted Harmanpreet’s ‘fire and flair’ which has been pivotal in shaping women’s cricket. The cricketer’s magnificent knock of 171 runs against Australia in a World Cup match in 2017 too was highlighted in the release by the magazine.

“Harmanpreet Kaur’s fire and flair have been instrumental in transforming women’s cricket from fringe curiosity to one of the world’s most valuable sporting assets. She attained legendary status back in 2017 when she scored a then-record 171 not out off just 115 balls in a World Cup match against Australia, leaving spectators agog at her extraordinary talent,” read the release as quoted by The Indian Express. 

Presently, the skipper has been out of action with the national team after she was handed a ban for two matches after she expressed her disappointment at the umpires during the third ODI against Bangladesh following her dismissal, as she was seen smashing the stumps.

In addition to this, Harmanpreet received three demerit points for showing dissent towards the umpire’s decision. This essentially means that the skipper will miss the initial matches of the Asian Games which is slated to begin on September 19, in Hangzhou, China.

Considering that she will be confined to the sidelines due to the match ban, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will shoulder the responsibility of leading the side in the Asian Games. However, it is worth noting that Harmanpreet has played a vital role in the success of the national team and her Women’s Premier League (WPL) team – Mumbai Indians (MI-W).

Harmanpreet led her franchise to a stellar win in the summit clash of the inaugural edition of the WPL. In addition to this, she was also named one of the five WISDEN’s cricketers of the year in 2023.