Smriti Mandhana shares emotional message for skipper Harmanpreet Kaur — WATCH

NEW DELHI: India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana extended her congratulations to skipper Harmanpreet Kaur after the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) named a stand in her honour at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Two new stands were unveiled at the venue, with the second being dedicated to former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.



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The ceremony was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, PCA President Amarjit Mehta, BCCI President Mithun Manhas and Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.




The BCCI shared a video from the event on social media, which Mandhana reposted on her Instagram story, writing, “Congratulations @imharmanpreet_kaur!! What a day for women's cricket and so so proud of you!”


In the video, Harmanpreet said, “After winning the World Cup, a lot of things have changed in my life. But I think this is a special moment for me. The soil on which I started playing—today I will finally have a stand on my name. So I think it's a very proud moment for me and I really want to thank the Punjab Cricket Association for that. All the hard work, all the struggle, has paid off today. So I think it is a very emotional moment for me. But also, whoever is going to watch this video, whoever is listening, I think it is going to be very motivational for all of them.”


Harmanpreet had scripted history last month by captaining India to their maiden senior ICC women’s title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.



With this honour, Harmanpreet became only the third Indian woman cricketer to have a stand named after her, after Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj, and the only active cricketer to receive the distinction.


During the event, cash awards of Rs 11 lakh were presented to Harmanpreet, Amanjot Kaur and Harleen Deol, while fielding coach Munish Bali received Rs 5 lakh.



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