Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur etched her name deeper into cricket folklore on September 20, 2025, joining Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana in the coveted 8,000 international runs milestone for India.
The 36-year-old veteran achieved this feat during the series-deciding third ODI against Australia at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where she crafted a spirited counter-attacking half-century that showcased her enduring class and determination under pressure.
Starting the match 49 runs away from the landmark, Harmanpreet delivered when it mattered most, scoring a blazing 52 off just 35 balls in India’s chase of a mammoth 413-run target. Her innings was a masterclass in aggressive batting, featuring eight boundaries and a strike rate of 148.57 that kept India’s hopes alive during a challenging run chase.
The milestone moment came during her crucial 121-run partnership with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, whose own magnificent 125 off 63 balls provided the perfect foil to Harmanpreet’s explosive batting display.
Though her dismissal in the 21st over, trapped LBW by Kim Garth, left India at a precarious 206/3, Harmanpreet’s contribution had already secured her place in cricket history. With 8,003 runs from 340 international appearances across all formats, she now stands as India’s third-highest run-scorer of all time.
The achievement comes during a compelling three-match ODI series where Harmanpreet has been in impressive rhythm with the bat. After Australia’s skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and elected to bat first in the decider, her team posted 412 runs with 13 balls remaining, setting up a thrilling finale to a series that has showcased the best of women’s cricket.
Australia had dominated the opener with an eight-wicket victory, but India responded emphatically in the second ODI, levelling the series with a comprehensive 102-run triumph that handed Australia their heaviest defeat in the format.
ODI Excellence: A Career Spanning Over a Decade
Harmanpreet’s ODI journey began on March 7, 2009, when she made her international debut against Pakistan at Bowral. Since that modest beginning, she has transformed into one of the format’s most reliable performers, accumulating 4,149 runs at an impressive strike rate of 76.42 and an average of 37.37 across 132 innings in 152 matches.
Her ODI record is studded with consistency and occasional brilliance, featuring 20 half-centuries and seven centuries that have often proved decisive for India. The pinnacle of her ODI career came on July 20, 2017, during the World Cup semi-final against Australia at County Ground, Derby, where she played what many consider one of the greatest innings in women’s cricket history.
That unforgettable knock of 171 not out from 115 balls was a tour, a glimpse of a force that single-handedly propelled India to their 2nd ODI World Cup final. The innings featured 20 boundaries and seven maximums, earning her the Player of the Match award and cementing her reputation as a big-match performer. The knock demonstrated her ability to pace an innings perfectly, starting cautiously before unleashing a barrage of boundaries that left the Australian bowlers helpless.
Beyond her batting prowess, Harmanpreet has contributed significantly with her off-spin bowling, claiming 31 wickets at an average of 48.64 and an economy rate of 5.28 across 71 innings. Her all-round capabilities have made her an invaluable asset to the Indian team, providing crucial depth to both batting and bowling departments.
T20I Mastery: Leading from the Front
Harmanpreet’s T20I career commenced on June 11, 2009, against England at Taunton, and has since evolved into a story of consistent excellence and leadership. With 3,654 runs at an average of 28.77 from 162 innings across 182 matches, she has established herself as one of the format’s most dependable middle-order batters.
Her T20I statistics include 14 half-centuries and a memorable century that remains one of the format’s most dominant individual performances. This century came during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opener against New Zealand on November 9, 2018, at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, where she smashed an unbeaten 103 off just 51 balls.
The innings was a masterpiece of power-hitting, featuring seven boundaries and eight maximums that reduced the New Zealand bowling attack to mere spectators. India’s 34-run victory in that match was built entirely around Harmanpreet’s explosive batting, earning her the Player of the Match award and announcing her arrival as a T20I force.
With the ball, Harmanpreet has been equally effective in T20Is, claiming 32 wickets at an average of 24.84 and an economy rate of 6.27 from 62 innings. Her bowling has produced some memorable performances, including a four-wicket haul that showcased her ability to impact games with both bat and ball.
Her best bowling figures came on March 27, 2016, during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup against the West Indies at PCA IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. Despite India’s narrow three-run defeat, Harmanpreet’s spell of 3-0-23-4 demonstrated her capability to single-handedly change the course of matches with her off-spin bowling.
Test Cricket: The Traditional Format Mastery
Though Harmanpreet’s Test career began relatively late, starting on August 13, 2014, against England at Wormsley, she has made significant contributions whenever called upon in the longest format. Her Test statistics of 200 runs at a strike rate of 54.20 and an average of 25 across nine innings in six matches reflect the measured approach required for Test success.
Her finest Test batting performance came on June 28, 2024, against South Africa in Chennai, where she crafted a patient 69 off 115 balls in the first innings. This knock demonstrated her adaptability and technical soundness, qualities that have served her well across all formats of the game.
However, it is with the ball that Harmanpreet has truly excelled in Test cricket, claiming 12 wickets at an outstanding average of 15.41 and an economy rate of 2.59 from seven innings. Her Test bowling includes both a four-wicket haul and a five-wicket haul, highlighting her effectiveness in longer formats.
The pinnacle of her Test bowling came during a one-off Test match against South Africa in Mysore on November 16, 2014, where she delivered match figures of 41.2-15-85-9. This extraordinary performance included a five-wicket haul in the first innings, followed by a four-wicket haul in the second, playing a crucial role in India’s comprehensive innings and 34-run victory.
The achievement of 8,000 international runs serves as both a personal triumph and a testament to Harmanpreet’s enduring value to Indian cricket. As she joins Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana in this exclusive club, her legacy as one of India’s greatest cricketers is already secure, but the hunger for more achievements, particularly a World Cup triumph on home soil, continues to drive this remarkable cricketer forward.
With her vast experience, proven leadership qualities, and a batting style that combines patience with aggression, Harmanpreet Kaur represents India’s best hope of lifting the World Cup trophy. Her milestone moment in Delhi was not just a personal achievement but a statement of intent ahead of cricket’s biggest stage, where legends are made and careers are defined.
