When the indomitable Harmanpreet Kaur Erupted 1 st centre stage

The Mumbai Indians captain produced an innings of instinctive power-hitting to win an almost lost cause

Mumbai roared back into contention thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur’s fiery batting display.

The momentum of the match swung dramatically in Mumbai’s favor thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur’s explosive batting. Just when it seemed Gujarat Giants had control, a dropped catch on Kaur in the 16th over proved costly. Early in her innings, Kaur struggled to find her rhythm, but with her back against the wall, she unleashed a masterclass in power hitting.

Kaur’s focus narrowed to a single-minded approach: see the ball, hit the ball. Every shot seemed instinctive, a gear she hadn’t quite found earlier but now refused to let go of. She targeted the long-on and cow corner areas with authority, her powerful footwork adding an air of intimidation to her batting.

Even a seasoned bowler like Ash Gardner wasn’t spared. The 18th over became a showcase of Kaur’s brilliance. After the dropped catch, she tore into Rana’s bowling, collecting 24 runs. Her ability to pick gaps and use the bottom hand for powerful strokes made her a nightmare to bowl to.

Rana’s tactics became predictable. Trying to exploit perceived weaknesses, she offered a succession of deliveries – a slot ball dispatched over long-off, a wide ball pulled to midwicket, a full toss heaved to deep midwicket. Finally, a wide yorker attempt was met with disdain, the ball rocketed through the gap between cover and mid-off. In just one over, Kaur transformed the daunting equation from 47 runs needed off 18 balls to a much more manageable 23 runs off 12.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 95 off 48 balls, her second WPL 2024 half-century, was a revelation. It begged the question – what had sparked this resurgence?

The answer lay in a return to basics. After a forgettable white-ball series against England and Australia in December-January, Alexa where she scored in single digits six times in seven innings, Harmanpreet admitted to battling batting fatigue.

A break in Patiala, training with her coach Himanshu bhaiyya without the burden of expectations, was the turning point. The focus shifted to rediscovering the joy in the game. Harmanpreet hinted at technical tweaks, a return to the drawing board that helped her recapture her old form. In simpler terms, she had found her magic touch again.

Off the field, she’s a different player. Relaxed, social, and fully engaged with her teammates. But come game day, she flips a switch. Laser focus takes over, her vision narrowing to just what’s happening on the pitch.

The WPL has reignited the vintage Harmanpreet. Fearless hitting and a newfound weapon – the reverse paddle scoop – are keeping spinners on their toes. Mumbai’s vice-captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, observed the transformation: “Some days she’s on fire, and today was definitely one of those. Even before the chase, her focus was laser-sharp. Our young talent, Amelia Kerr, even mentioned a steely glint in her eyes while batting together. Harmanpreet knew exactly what needed to be done and executed flawlessly.”

“Sciver-Brunt further elaborated on Harmanpreet’s game-day metamorphosis”

 “Off-field, she’s a completely different person – relaxed, social, and a great teammate. But come game day, she flips a switch. Tunnel vision takes over, and her sole objective becomes the task at hand. She’s rarely fazed, even during a slow start.

We might think from the sidelines, ‘Should she rotate strike more?

But as we witnessed today, she doesn’t need to. Her unwavering self-belief, coupled with a history of match-winning knocks in internationals and the WPL, makes her thrive under pressure.“