She bats like Sehwag and is aggressive like Kohli: Harmanpreet Kaur's sister Hemjit

Chandigarh: “She bats like Virender Sehwag and is aggressive like Virat Kohli,” said Harmampreet Kaur’s sister Hemjit, summing up the family’s elation at the batter’s hurricane knock that took India to the ICC women’s World Cup final. Celebrations were on at Harmanpreet’s home in Moga in Punjab after her 171-run knock against Australia. Back home in Moga, friends and well-wishers have been dropping in since last night to congratulate the family.

Youngsters from the neighbourhood have been dancing to the beats of Punjabi dhol while the family has been busy distributing sweets. “Right from her childhood, she has been playing cricket with boys. Her hunger for runs never dies and this is reflected in her strike rate,” her sister said. “Harman is always positive. On field she always behaves like Virat Kohli and is aggressive like him. However, off- field, she is quite calm and composed. Right from her early days, she treated Virender Sehwag as her batting idol and even bats like him,” she said.

About her scintillating knock, Hemjit said, “had it not been a rain-shortened match, she would have scored a double ton and inflicted more misery on the opposition.” Harmanpreet’s innings even drew comparisons with Kapil Dev’s historic 175 against Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup campaign. “If Harman’s innings is being compared with Kapil Dev, then it is a great honour for her,” her sister said.

For Harmanpreet and her sister, their father the 52-year-old Harmandar Singh has been a role model. “Her first coach has been our father. He was a good cricketer, but he could not reach where he wanted to in the sport.”