Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian Women's cricket team, has been appointed as the captain of Mumbai Indians for the Women's Premier League (WPL) in a move that she describes as "a very emotional moment." The inaugural edition of the WPL is scheduled to take place from March 4-26 in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Kaur was bought by the franchise for INR 1.8 crores at the player auction earlier this month.
The right-handed batter is the only Indian woman to score a hundred in the T20 format in international cricket. Under her leadership, India reached the knockouts in the last three Women's T20 World Cups, including being runners-up in the 2020 edition in Australia.
Kaur will be working with head coach Charlotte Edwards and team mentor and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami, under whom she made her India debut in 2009. She expressed her excitement at the prospect of working with them, saying she feels lucky to have the opportunity. Kaur also drew inspiration from India men's captain Rohit Sharma, who has led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, saying she aims to follow his legacy and keep the winning momentum going.
The skipper emphasized the importance of backing uncapped players in the team and giving them the freedom to play naturally. She believes that the most important thing is to enjoy playing cricket and that it is a great moment for all women cricketers.
Mumbai Indians will play Gujarat Giants in the opening match of the WPL on March 4 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Kaur gave a special message to the MI Paltan, Mumbai Indians' fan army, expressing her gratitude for their support and hoping to see many fans in the stadium.