‘No Pressure Anymore’: Harmanpreet Kaur Savours Batting Freedom After Unbeaten 91

Harmanpreet Kaur says she wants to enjoy her batting without the additional burden of captaincy, after an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls helped India defeat Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Raipur.

The 37-year-old, who stepped down as captain earlier this month with Smriti Mandhana taking over, ended an eight-innings wait for a half-century with a match-winning performance.

“I don't think there is any pressure anymore. I think now it's all about enjoying myself on the field and I think that's what I want to do,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation.

“I definitely enjoy myself in the middle and this is what I'm here for. I just want to enjoy my batting, and good that those runs came.”

India won Tuesday’s match by 92 runs to complete a 3–0 series sweep. timesofindia.indiatimes.com

FROM STEADY START TO BATTING ASSAULT

Coming in at No. 4 in the eighth over, Harmanpreet initially took time to settle, hitting just one boundary in her first 12 deliveries.

She then accelerated, taking 20 runs from a Kudzai Chigora over with two fours and two sixes.

Harmanpreet said an early drive past extra cover off Loryn Phiri helped her assess the pitch and gave her the confidence to attack.

Once she recognised that the ball was coming comfortably onto the bat, she decided to keep playing her shots.

NET SESSIONS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Harmanpreet credited batting coach Himanshu for helping her repeat her bat swing and recreate match pressure during training.

She said the sessions were designed around her strengths, allowing her to enter games without feeling additional pressure.

“Every time we meet, when we spend time in the nets, he just wants me to keep feeling that same pressure in the nets so that when I am playing the match, I should not feel any extra pressure,” she said.

MANDHANA BACKS BATTING ROTATION

Mandhana said changes to the batting order were intended to give more players time in the middle.

India chose to bat first, with Anushka Sharma opening alongside Shafali Verma. Mandhana did not bat.

The captain said the middle order had received limited opportunities earlier in the series, making match practice and runs particularly valuable.

She also welcomed the contributions of Shafali and Niki Prasad with the ball, saying a wider pool of bowling options would help India prepare for conditions affected by dew.

With the team building towards the inaugural six-team T20I Champions Trophy in February, Mandhana said flexibility would be important. India is scheduled to host the tournament in Mumbai and Vadodara.

With inputs from ANI