Virat Kohli cheers for Harmanpreet’s record Lord’s fifty, attends match with Anushka

Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan were among the biggest draws in the stands at Lord’s as India took on Australia in a must-win ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group A clash on Sunday, June 28. The iconic venue was packed for the blockbuster encounter, with the two former India openers joining several prominent faces from the cricketing world to cheer Harman on.

Kohli was accompanied by his wife Anushka Sharma while Dhawan was seen alongside Sophie Shine. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri was also present at the Home of Cricket, adding to the star-studded atmosphere as fans eagerly awaited one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

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Cameras repeatedly followed Kohli, Dhawan, Anushka, Sophie and Shastri throughout the game, with the group applauding India’s positive start. Courtesy: JioStar screengrab

HOW INDIAN BATS PERFORMED AGAINST AUSTRALIA

The contest was of immense importance for India, who went into the match needing a win to book their place in the semi-finals after South Africa’s victory over Bangladesh earlier in the day. Australia, meanwhile, came into the game unbeaten in the tournament and all but secured a place in the last four thanks to their excellent net speed.

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India the ideal platform, adding 66 runs for the opening wicket in 9.1 overs. After their departure, Harmanpreet Kaur took charge, smashing the fastest fifty by an Indian in Women’s T20 World Cup history in just 25 balls.

Harmanpreet scored a blistering 56 off 27 deliveries, with six fours and three sixes, to propel India to 170 for six. Jemimah Rodrigues also made a valuable contribution, scoring 34 off 28 balls, including a four and a six.

With Lord’s hosting a sell-out double-header with South Africa v Bangladesh and India v Australia, the electric atmosphere reflected the growing popularity of the women’s game. The presence of some of the biggest names in Indian cricket further elevated the occasion and made it one of the standout moments of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

28 Jun 2026 21:03 IST