‘Harmanpreet Kaur bats like Sehwag, aggressive like Virat Kohli,’ says sister Hemjit

Already hailed as one of the greatest knocks played in One-day International cricket, India’s Harmanpreet Kaur’s demeanour and approach to batting was compared to two greats in the men’s game by sister Hemjit after slamming a magical unbeaten 171 in 115 balls against Australia in the semi-final of the World Cup on Friday.

“She bats like Virender Sehwag and is aggressive like Virat Kohli,” said Harmampreet Kaur’s sister Hemjit, summing up the family’s elation at the batter’s hurricane knock that took India to the final. Celebrations were on in the 28-year-old’s home at Moga in Punjab after her magical 171-run knock against Australia steered India into the World Cup final with a 36-run victory, reported PTI.

Back home in Moga, friends and well-wishers have been dropping in since last night to congratulate the family. Youngsters from the neighbourhood have been dancing to the beats of dhol while the family has been busy distributing sweets. “Right from her childhood, she has been playing cricket with boys. Her hunger for runs never dies and this is reflected in her strike rate,” Hemjit said.

“Harman is always positive. On the field she always behaves like Virat Kohli and is aggressive like him. However, off-field, she is quite calm and composed. Right from her early days, she treated Virender Sehwag as her batting idol and even bats like him,” she said. About her sister’s scintillating knock, Hemjit said that Harmanpreet would have ended up with an even bigger score had rain not curtailed the contest into a 42-overs-a-side one: “Had it not been a rain-shortened match, she would have scored a double ton and inflicted more misery on the opposition.”

Harmanpreet’s innings on Thursday even drew comparisons with Kapil Dev’s historic 175 against Zimbabwe during the Indian men’s team’s victorious 1983 World Cup campaign. “If Harman’s innings is being compared with the legendary Kapil Dev, then it is a great honour for her,” Hemjit said.

‘He is able to realise his dream through his daughter’

For Harmanpreet and her sister, their father – 52-year-old Harmandar Singh – has been a role model. “Her first coach has been our father. He was a good cricketer, but due to some circumstances he could not reach where he wanted to in the sport. But today, he is able to realise his dream through his daughter,” she said. Harmandar Singh said that Harmanpreet has promised him that India will lift the Cup. “We are all very proud of her feat. The nation is proud of her,” he said.

The cricketer’s mother Satwinder Kaur said her daughter has worked hard to achieve what she has done today. “When girls of her age would be carefree, she would sweat it out practicing for hours together. Even at home, she used to practice outside. We are proud of her,” Kaur said.

Hemjit, who is an English teacher, said that their parents always supported and encouraged both the girls to achieve their goals in life. “The mindset in the society towards girls is changing and more and more parents are fully backing their daughters to achieve their goals,” Hemjit said.