In what promises to be an emotional and historic evening for Indian cricket, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will become only the third Indian, after the iconic Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, to feature in 150 One-Day Internationals, when she leads her side out against Australia in the series opener at the newly built Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, on September 14, 2025.
The landmark not only testifies to her longevity but also underlines her stature as the heartbeat of Indian women’s cricket through a transformative era for the sport.
Harmanpreet’s journey began on 7th March 2009 at Bowral, in an ODI against Pakistan, where a young 19-year-old all-rounder quietly stepped into the international arena. Sixteen years later, she walks into her 150th ODI as the seasoned leader of a team that looks distinctly different from the one she had first broken into. Experience, resilience, and an unyielding drive to transform Indian women’s cricket now define her cricketing persona.
In her 149 ODIs so far, she has amassed 4,069 runs from 129 innings at an average of 37.67 and a strike rate of 75.92. Her record includes 19 half-centuries and 7 centuries, testimony to her consistency across conditions and oppositions. With the ball, she has chipped in with 31 wickets in 71 innings, operating at an economy of 5.28 and an average of 48.64, adding valuable depth to the side.
If there’s a defining image in modern-day women’s cricket, it is Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171* off 115 balls against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final at Derby. That breathtaking innings, studded with 20 fours and 7 sixes, was not just a statement of her power and flair; it was the day Indian women’s cricket truly arrived on the global stage. It remains her highest score in ODIs and one of the greatest knocks ever played in the history of the women’s game.
Over the years, Harmanpreet has evolved from a fearless all-rounder into the leader at the forefront of Indian cricket’s transition. Taking the reins after Mithali Raj’s retirement, she has balanced the responsibilities of captaincy with her batting, inspiring younger talents while pushing India closer to global competitiveness.
Now at 36, her leadership will be tested once again when India hosts a formidable Australian side led by Alyssa Healy across three ODIs between September 14–20, 2025. The clash is more than a series; it is a battle of two cricketing cultures, both sides brimming with talent and ambition. And at the centre of this contest will be Harmanpreet Kaur, carrying both milestone pride and the responsibility of setting the tone.
By stepping into her 150th ODI, Harmanpreet joins Mithali Raj (232 matches) and Jhulan Goswami (204 matches) in an elite club of Indian women cricketers who have stood the test of time in a challenging format. Each of these names represents a chapter in India’s cricket evolution, Mithali’s grace, Jhulan’s fire, and Harmanpreet’s fearless aggression, together forming a lineage of leaders and game-changers.
For Harmanpreet Kaur, this milestone isn’t the finish line but yet another reminder of her enduring value to Indian cricket. Her presence continues to steady the middle order, while her leadership carries the promise of a team hungry for global success. With cricket in India now riding a wave of increasing recognition and support for women’s sport, Harmanpreet “Hurricane” Kaur’s landmark could also be the perfect occasion to pause and reflect on how far the women’s game has come, and how much further it can go.
As New Chandigarh readies itself to witness this landmark match today, it won’t just be another ODI in the calendar. It will be a tribute to a cricketer who has carried the torch of Indian women’s cricket for over a decade and a half, and whose passion for the game shows no signs of dimming.
