Harmanpreet Kaur: 'At first glance, I knew this girl had potential...', says Captain Harmanpreet's childhood coach

The journey of Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the world-defeating Indian women's cricket team, began on the grounds of Guru Nanak College in Moga. She was playing cricket with some boys there when she caught the attention of Kamaldeep Singh Sodhi, who runs the Gyan Jyoti School in Talwandi, near Moga. His son, Yadavendra Singh, was the coach of the school's cricket team and wanted to form a women's cricket team.

What did her childhood coach say about Harmanpreet Kaur?

He immediately recognized that this girl could achieve something in cricket. Kamaldeep spoke first to his son and then to Harmanpreet's father, asking them to send her to his school. At that time, Harman was studying in a government school, and her father said he couldn't afford a private school.

Sodhi assured him that no expenses would be incurred for Harman's education. When Harman arrived, she was a medium-fast bowler.

India defeated South Africa to win its first ODI World Cup.

The Indian women's cricket team won its first Women's ODI World Cup (ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025) on November 2, 2025, defeating South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. With this historic victory, Indian women's cricket reached a milestone where it now stands at the top of the world.

Those who missed Kapil Dev's first World Cup win in 1983 have had their wish fulfilled through Harmanpreet. India participated in the Women's World Cup for the first time in 1978, and under Mithali Raj's captaincy, the team reached the final in 2005 and 2017, but lost the trophy both times. Ultimately, under Harmanpreet's captaincy, the Indian women's cricket team became world champions in the India Next ICC Tournaments (both men's and women's). This is the women's team's first ICC trophy.