Harmanpreet Kaur sets MASSIVE T20I record, overtakes Meg Lanning to become…

Team India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur reached a massive landmark in the third T20I between India and Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

New Delhi: Team India captain Harmanpreet Kaur surpassed Australia’s great Meg Lanning to become the most successful captain in women’s T20Is. Kaur reached the landmark during the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, where India sealed an convincing eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka to take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

With that win, Harmanpreet now has 77 victories as T20I captain from 130 matches, along with 48 defeats and five no results, giving her a win percentage of 58.46. Meanwhile, Lanning recorded 76 wins in 100 matches, with 18 losses, one tie and five no results.

Meg Lanning is among most successful leaders in T20 cricket

Lannings win percentage stands at an impressive 76, and with four T20 World Cup titles as captain, she among the most successful leaders in the shortest format across both men’s and women’s international cricket.

Talking about the match, India won the toss and invited Si Lanka to bat first. Imesha Dulani (27 off 32 balls, four fours), Hasini Perera (25 off 18, five boundaries) and Kavisha Dilhari (20 off 13, including two fours and a six) were the only Sri Lankan batters to reach the 20-run mark, as the visitors managed to score only 112/7 in their 20 overs.

Deepti Sharma scripted history

Spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma created history as she became the first Indian across men’s and women’s cricket to pick 150 T20I wickets, also moving to the top of the all-time wicket-takers list in the format. Pacer Renuka Singh was equally impressive, as she grabbed 4 wickets conceding 21 runs.

Chasing the target, Shafali Verma remained unbeaten at 79 off 42 balls, which included 11 fours and three sixes and captain Harmanpreet Kaur quickfire 21 off 18, powered India to an eight-wicket victory in just 13.2 overs. Shafali brought up her second consecutive fifty. She has now scored 333 runs in eight T20Is this year at an average of 55.50 and a strike rate of over 173, which includes three half-centuries, with 79* as her highest score.

After leading India to their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup triumph, Harmanpreet will now aim to lead the side to their first Women’s T20 World Cup title. The tournament is scheduled to be held in the UK in June-July next year, with India placed in a competitive Group A alongside Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, while two more teams are yet to be confirmed.