Indian women’s cricket team began their Commonwealth Games 2022 campaign on a positive note on July 29, as captain Harmanpreet Kaur played out a knock of 52 runs off 34 balls. She also scripted history as she became the first Indian woman to score a half-century in the Commonwealth Games.
This is the first time since 1998 when cricket has been added to the Commonwealth Games roster. The 2022 edition is also the first time that women’s cricket has been added to the mega-event. While the Indian men’s cricket team was part of the Commonwealth Games campaign in 1998, they did not win a medal as they were ousted in the group stages.
Also Read: CWG 2022: Reason behind the absence of BCCI logo from Indian team kit
Watch the moment when she completed her half-century here:
Harmanpreet scored a knock of 52 runs off 34 balls while scoring eight boundaries and one six. However, she was bowled out by Australian pacer Megan Schutt.
The Indian skipper scored the highest runs for her side and the internet also went into a frenzy as fans congratulated her on her achievement. The half-century also marked the seventh half-century of her career. Harmanpreet made her T20I debut for India against England in 2009. Since then, she has gone on to score 2411 runs in 112 innings in the format for the Indian team.
Eight teams are part of the roster at Commonwealth Games 2022, with India being in Group A. Apart from Australia, the Indian eves will also face Barbados and Pakistan in the group stages as they hope to win a medal at the quadrennial event.
Group B consists of England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka — any of whom could prove to be a tough match for India on their road to a medal finish.
India faces arch-rivals Pakistan in their next game at the Commonwealth Games on July 31, before they play Barbados in their final group stage game on August 3.
