Harmanpreet Kaur Joins Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni as India’s ODI World Cup-Winning Captains

Harmanpreet Kaur has entered elite company in Indian cricket, becoming only the third India captain — after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni — to lift an ODI World Cup. Her leadership steered the women’s team to their maiden world title earlier this month, defeating South Africa in Navi Mumbai in a breakthrough moment for women’s cricket in the country.

Speaking at an event at Velammal Nexus School in Chennai, Harmanpreet was asked to pick her favourite cricketer between Dhoni and Virat Kohli. “It is a tough question,” she admitted, before choosing Dhoni — a response that drew loud cheers from the crowd in the former India captain’s adopted home.

The 35-year-old has carved out a legacy of her own, not just through her captaincy but also with her crucial innings in the semifinal chase against Australia. The triumph came in her fifth World Cup, 16 years after her debut tournament, finally adding the long-awaited silverware to her storied career.

Harmanpreet also mirrored Dhoni in the final act of the World Cup win: while Dhoni sealed the 2011 title with a six, she completed India’s victory by taking the catch to dismiss Nadine de Klerk.

Reflecting on the team’s achievement and the growing stature of women’s cricket, Harmanpreet said: “It is good to see that now people only talk about cricket without comparing men’s and women’s cricket. Everyone enjoys it — the viewership is high, stadiums are full — it is a proud moment.”