Harmanpreet Kaur breaks Dhoni’s record after big win against Pakistan in CWG 2022
India Women beat Pakistan Women in a Group A fixture of the Commonwealth Games 2022 at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Sunday, July 31. Indian bowlers dominated the game and restricted the rivals to just 99 runs. While chasing, star batter Smriti Mandhana was quick to guide India to a big eight-wicket win with 38 balls to spare. With this win, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur broke former men’s team captain MS Dhoni’s record of most T20I wins by an Indian skipper.
The 33-year-old batter smashed an impressive fifty in the opening match against Australia but it was not enough to secure a win as they lost the game by three wickets. But the bowlers did a great job on Sunday to gift their captain her record-breaking 42nd win in T20I cricket. Kaur has now guided Team India in 71 T20I matches, winning 42, losing 26, with three ending in no-result.
Dhoni, who guided India to a title in the first ever T20 World Cup in 2007, managed to win 41 matches out of 72 as captain. His successor, Virat Kohli led India in 50 T20I matches, winning 30, and losing only 16. Kohli has a better win percentage but Kaur now has more wins to her side and many more are likely to follow.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s record win as a captain boosts India to the top of the Group A table at CWG 2022
Both India and Pakistan lost their respective opening match at the Commonwealth Games 2022 and needed a win at any cost on Sunday. India’s next game is against Barbados Women on August 3, who beat Pakistan in their first match. On the other side, Pakistan face might Australians in their last group stage fixture on the same day. India, Barbados, and Australia all have two points so far but India are leading the table courtesy of their superior net run rate and Pakistan remain at the bottom with no points.
But both Barbados and Australia have played a game less than India and are facing each other in the Sunday evening game. Harmanpreet’s team will slip to the second position in the table but will be in a firm position to reach the semi-finals round and a possible medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
