Harmanpreet Kaur overtakes MS Dhoni to become India's most successful T20I captain
India Today
Harmanpreet Kaur surpassed MS Dhoni to script a spectacular India captaincy record in T20I cricket after India women's cricket team thrashed Pakistan by 8 wickets in Commonwealth Games 2022.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur leapfrogged MS Dhoni to become the captain with the most T20I wins for India after her team registered a comprehensive win over Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games 2022 on Sunday.
The win helped Harmanpreet extend her tally of T20I wins to 42 as India captain. Her tally stands third-most among captains in women's T20I, behind Charlotte Edwards (68) and Meg Lanning (64). Dhoni had 41 wins under his name. He is followed by former captain Virat Kohli (31) and current skipper Rohit Sharma (27).
Matches - 71Matches won - 42Matches lost - 26NR - 3Harmanpreet Kaur overtakes MS Dhoni to become India captain with the most wins in T20I cricket Incredible achievement! #HarmanpreetKaur #MSDhoni #India #WIvsIND #Cricket #T20Is pic.twitter.com/33aO9hkIsi
Pakistan's decision to bat first backfired as Indian bowlers put the choke on the batters to bowl them out for a meager 99 all out in the 18 overs-a-side contest after rain delayed the start of play. Spinners Sneh Rana and Radha Yadav stood out with two wickets each.
The chase was clinical too, with Smriti Mandhana (63 not out off 42 balls), arguably the most attractive batter in women's cricket, flaunting her range of strokes on the way to a fine unbeaten half-century. The result had India gunning down the target in just 11.4 overs.
India showed an approach that they have been trying to play with for the last couple of months and it would have most definitely pleased captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Mandhana's special effort comprised three sixes, including a step-out hit-off-spinner Tuba Hassan for her half-century. A seemingly effortless loft over the cover of pacer Diana Baig in the third over was also of the highest quality.