As the Women's Premier League (WPL) gears up for its fourth season starting Friday, Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur has set a clear personal and team goal: to bat with more freedom and clinch a historic consecutive championship. The dynamic batter, who is on the cusp of becoming the first skipper to win back-to-back WPL titles, opened up about her mindset ahead of the tournament.
Chasing History with a Free-Spirited Bat
Harmanpreet Kaur, a linchpin of Indian cricket, often displays contrasting styles when playing for the national team versus her franchise. In the WPL, she has consistently been a force to reckon with. With 851 runs in 27 matches at a formidable strike rate of 143.5, she stands as the league's second-highest run-getter. Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference on Thursday, the 36-year-old emphasized her desire to shed pressure and express herself fully with the bat this season.
"I think, as a batter, I want to bat freely. Because this is the only platform where I don't put a lot of pressure on myself," Harmanpreet revealed. She added that the WPL is a crucial tournament where she can execute her plans as she wishes and aims to contribute maximally to her team's success.
The 'Blessing' of All-Rounders and a New Calm Influence
Reflecting on Mumbai Indians' squad composition over the past three seasons, Harmanpreet expressed her delight at leading a side rich in all-rounders. She views this abundance not as a selection headache but as a significant advantage. "I personally like having all-rounders in the team... It's a blessing that you have too many options," she stated.
She believes that quality all-rounders, picked from both international and domestic circuits, provide the flexibility to fill various roles and expects them to play with an aggressive mindset to meet the team's expectations.
The new season also brings a change in the coaching staff. After three successful years with former England captain Charlotte Edwards, MI will now be guided by former Australian cricketer Lisa Keightley. Harmanpreet has warmly welcomed this change, appreciating the calm and relaxed atmosphere Keightley has already brought to the group.
"She's very, very calm, relaxed, and I think I really like to work with people who are calm, who know their work, who don't panic at all," the MI captain said. Although their time together has been limited so far, positive feedback from other players has made her excited about the learning and excitement this new partnership promises for WPL 2026.
A Legacy of Leadership and Aggression
Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership record is already impressive, and with the endorsement of legends like Jhulan Goswami—who believes she has another 4-5 years to offer—the expectations are sky-high. Her approach encapsulates a blend of aggressive intent and strategic calmness, a formula that brought Mumbai Indians the title last season.
As the league kicks off, all eyes will be on whether Harmanpreet can translate her desire for free-flowing batting into match-winning performances and guide her talented squad to a record-breaking second consecutive WPL trophy.
