WPL 2023: Harmanpreet Kaur To Lead Mumbai Indians

Harmanpreet Kaur: The Indian captain's announcement as the skipper of the Mumbai side comes along expected lines.

Mumbai Indians had roped in Harmanpreet Kaur for Rs 1.8 Crore at the inaugural WPL Auction.

Source : Getty

Days before the start of the inaugural Women's Premier League, Mumbai Indians have appointed Harmanpreet Kaur as their skipper. The tournament is all set to get underway on March 4 with Mumbai in action on the first day of the tournament itself with their clash against the Gujarat Giants set to be the first-match ever of the brand-new league.

The Indian captain's announcement as the skipper of the Mumbai side comes along expected lines in a team which also has other top international players like Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr.

Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani hoped that Harmanpreet would be able to inspire the team to play their best brand of cricket.

"I am sure that with Charlotte [Edwards, head coach] and Jhulan's [Goswami, bowling coach and mentor ] support, she will inspire our MI women's team to play their best cricket, display a sense of pride, and bring even more glory to women in sports," she stated as per an official release.

The 33-year-old was the second player to be sold in the first players' auction of the tournament and was bought by the Mumbai Indians for Rs 1.8 crore who outbid Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, and Royal Challengers Bangalore to rope her in after losing Smriti Mandhana to Bangalore.

Harmanpreet Kaur, 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏, Mumbai Indians - the magic spell. 🪄💙@ImHarmanpreet | #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #AaliRe #WPL pic.twitter.com/QP4CG5M8Tp

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 1, 2023

Interestingly, MI had bid up to Rs 3.2 crore for Mandhana but decided against getting her when Bangalore escalated the bid to 3.4 crore.

As far as Kaur is concerned, she produced a great innings under pressure for Team India in the first semi-final of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 against Australia. Batting hours after recovering from fever, the right-handed batter scored 52 off 34 but got run out in what seemed like a lazy attempt to get back for the second before her bat got stuck in the ground.

That wicket allowed Australia to comeback into the match and beat India by 5 runs before they went on to hand hosts South Africa a defeat in the summit clash.