In Match 7 of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, India Women continued to dominate Pakistan Women, winning T20Is for the 13th time. But in the process, they lost their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, who was forced to retire injured, even though India still needed a few runs to win.
In the last moments of the game, Harmanpreet—who had slid down the order by allowing Jemimah Rodrigues to bat ahead of her—suffered a neck injury. India won their first match of the tournament after requiring just four deliveries to win at the start of the 19th over. The first three deliveries produced a pair. On the fourth delivery of the over, Harmanpreet was involved in the regrettable situation.
Notably, the Indian captain misbalanced and fell to her knees while attempting to nuzzle one fine between the short-third man and point. She dragged herself out of her crease in the process. Unaware that Pakistani wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali had blown the opportunity, Harmanpreet Kaur attempted to establish herself by swaying back and forth while prone.
She reached the crease at the end of it all. But the Moga native seems to have strained her neck in the process. The physiotherapist hurried onto the field to tend to her, holding her neck in distress and threatening to cry.
She exited the field, gripping her hurting neck, unable to raise herself back up to play. Sajeevan Sajana, Harmanpreet’s replacement, lofted a shot wide of mid-off on the very next delivery, allowing the ball to dribble to the fence and ending Fatima Sana’s hopeless pursuit. This allowed India to cross the boundary.
Check out the viral Harmanpreet Kaur injury incident here:
Hope Harmanpreet Kaur is okay, Team India needs you #INDvPAK #INDvsPAK #T20WomensWorldCup #INDIAWIN #HarmanpreetKaur pic.twitter.com/RiAODLqo6i
— ANUJ THAKKUR (@anuj2488) October 6, 2024
Hopefully, she is doing well: Smriti Mandhana
During the post-match presentation, Harmanpreet was replaced by Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of the India Women’s team. She gave viewers a hint about the captain’s injury. The exact nature of Harmanpreet’s injury, its severity, and whether or not she will be available for selection for India’s upcoming group-stage match against another of their Asian rivals, Sri Lanka Women, are all unknown at this time, according to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).
Also Read: Twitter Reactions: India stumble but get past Pakistan
“The medics are looking into it; it’s too soon to comment. “Hopefully, she’s okay,” Mandhana said at the ceremony following the game.
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