'Mumbai has been special to me': Harmanpreet Kaur eyes another WPL crown as MI gear up for blockbuster opener vs RCB

Mumbai: Few figures in Indian women’s cricket are as familiar with winning trophies as Harmanpreet Kaur. She has led the Mumbai Indians to two Women’s Premier League titles and captained India to their historic maiden Women’s ODI World Cup crown last year. After steering Mumbai Indians to another title-winning run in the previous WPL edition, the seasoned campaigner is ready to lead the most successful side in the competition once again as they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a blockbuster opening clash of WPL 4 on Friday night. “Whenever I go on the field, I tell my team that I want to win the trophy,” Harmanpreet said during the Mumbai Indians’ pre-season press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday. “This new year starts with the WPL and I have the same energy and excitement going into the tournament. We have the same mindset. We have won two trophies in the last three seasons, and we want to play well this season and win the trophy again.” Over time, Harmanpreet has developed a deep connection with Mumbai, a city that has witnessed her lift three titles in the past three years. “Mumbai has always been special to me. It’s a special city and I’ve had a lot of positive results here. This season is going to be very special, hopefully. Our mindset will remain the same, which is to win the WPL again. I am really happy that last season and last year turned out to be very good overall for women’s cricket, and I hope this year also starts the same way,” she said. Reflecting on the growth of the women’s game, Harmanpreet added, “Four or five years ago, there was a group of just 20 to 25 players, but now there is a much larger pool. We are happy to have more talent around.” Mumbai Indians mentor and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami also praised the setup at the franchise. “It’s a blessing to work here. There is so much experience within the group and we can learn a lot under this leadership. At MI, we believe women should always come forward, and having an all-female coaching team is a great thing for us,” Goswami said. Harmanpreet believes the intense competition in the WPL plays a key role in preparing players for the international stage. “The competition in the WPL is very high and you play quality cricket. When you perform well there, you face the same players at the international level. Those performances stay in everyone’s mind, and that helps you do well in international cricket too,” she said. She also stressed that consistent match exposure is vital for confidence. “The more cricket you play, the more your confidence grows. Earlier, players didn’t get as many matches as they do now. Many girls would come into the Indian team without much experience. Playing more cricket and competing on different platforms really helps build confidence,” Harmanpreet added.