Harmanpreet goes into Thor mode, rediscovers the fearless self without the burden of captaincy

When Harmanpreet Kaur switches into Thor mode, the bowlers can only brace themselves for the impact. The nickname her friends use for her, inspired by the Marvel superhero’s extraordinary strength, seemed tailor-made for the Indian star in Raipur. With the burden of captaincy on her shoulders, Harmanpreet thundered against Zimbabwe in the third T20I, smashing an unbeaten 91 off just 41 balls in a breathtaking display of power-hitting.

The innings was a timely reminder of Harmanpreet’s destructive best and a glimpse of what India can expect when their veteran batsman plays without the weight of leadership. Having managed just 131 runs in her previous 10 T20Is at a strike rate of 99.24, she arrived at the crease with plenty to prove and Zimbabwe bore the brunt of her revival.

India vs Zimbabwe 3rd Women’s T20I: Update | Scorecard

Harmanpreet hit 10 fours and five sixes at 221.95 to give India 216 for seven. After handing over the captaincy to Smriti Mandhana, she looked determined to trust her instincts, take risks and embrace her natural attacking game.

Before the match, Harmanpreet received some words of wisdom from former India Women coach WV Raman and it seemed to pay off handsomely. After her explosive knock, Harmanpreet made sure to acknowledge Raman’s advice and credited his encouragement for helping her rediscover her natural attacking game.

“I should also credit you (WV Raman, former India women’s coach) (for telling me to do what I wanted) and thank you for those words (before the match),” Harmanpreet said during the innings break.

HARMANPREET SHIFTS GEARS

Harmanpreet’s innings did not start with fireworks. She took her time to settle in, scoring just 10 runs off her first 11 deliveries. But once she found her rhythm, the transformation was dramatic. She brought up her half-century from just 25 balls, leaving the Zimbabwean bowlers struggling to contain her.

The momentum changed significantly in the 14th over when Harmanpreet dismantled Kudzai Chigora for 20 runs. She started with a lofted four over mid-off before unleashing two sixes, including a ferocious drive over long-on. Another four over mid-wicket followed as she picked a length early and attacked fearlessly. The over saw a stunning change of gears, with Harmanpreet suddenly finding boundaries almost at will.

After taking the initiative, she showed no signs of letting up. She moved smartly around the crease, creating space to free her arms and punishing anything that strayed into her arc. What started as a measured innings became a full-fledged attack, with Zimbabwe struggling to find a way to slow it down.

Sit back and enjoy the Harmanpreet Kaur special in Raipur! Scorecard #TeamIndia | #INDvWINTER | @mflone_ | @ImHarmanpreet BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 20, 2026

THOR launches an attack

The 16th over delivered another dose of Thor’s signature power. Facing Beloved Biz, Harmanpreet charged down the track and launched a delivery over long-on for a towering six that traveled 82 metres. After two dot balls, she advanced again and sent another delivery that rose over cow horn. Two sixes in the same over underlined her dominance and kept the Indian charge firmly on track.

Harmanpreet continued to attack in the closing stages as well, combining clean shots with smart placement to keep the scores up. Shafali Verma laid the foundation of 69 off 37 balls, including six fours and five sixes. Their partnership gave India the platform for a formidable total, but Harmanpreet took charge as the innings progressed and ensured the momentum never let up.

The knock was about more than just a big score. Harmanpreet looked unrestrained, playing with the freedom and aggression that has made her one of India’s most feared batsmen. Her unbeaten 91 was the second highest T20I score of her career, after her historic 103 against New Zealand in 2018 when she became the first Indian to score a T20I century.

Nearly eight years after that landmark shift, Thor roared again. With the captaincy no longer weighing on her shoulders, Harmanpreet sent a powerful reminder that she remains capable of turning a match on its head – and that when she finds her fearless best, few bowlers are safe.

– The end