Harmanpreet Kaur Makes History as First Cricketer to Captain 150 T20Is

Harmanpreet Kaur has made a significant mark in the world of cricket by becoming the first player, regardless of gender, to captain in 150 T20 International matches. This historic achievement took place on Saturday during the Women's Asia Cup 2026 Group A match against Pakistan in Dubai, where India has already secured a spot in the semifinals and is striving for a perfect record in the group stage.

As one of the pivotal figures in India's T20I history, Harmanpreet Kaur now stands at the top of the list for the most matches captained in this format. Following her are Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu with 121 matches, Australia’s Meg Lanning with 100, and both England’s Heather Knight and Rwanda’s Diane Bimenyimana, who have each captained in 96 T20Is.

Most matches as captain in Women’s T20Is:

• 150* - Harmanpreet Kaur (IND-W)
• 121 - Chamari Athapaththu (SL-W)
• 100 - Meg Lanning (AUS-W)
• 96 - Heather Knight (ENG-W)
• 96 - Diane Bimenyimana (RWA-W)

In reflecting on her remarkable milestone, Kaur emphasized the importance of enjoying the game rather than focusing solely on statistics. "Great achievement. But the key is to keep enjoying yourself on the field, and that is a key. I try to keep up with that," she stated, highlighting her passion for the sport.

Harmanpreet’s accomplishment also positions her significantly ahead of male captains in T20I cricket. Currently, Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus holds the record for the most matches as a men's captain with 91, while former Indian captain MS Dhoni is next with 72 matches, ranking him ninth overall on the list.

In the match against Pakistan, India faced a determined opponent as Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and opted to bat first. Pakistan was in search of their second victory in the group stage after securing a win against Thailand in their opening match. Meanwhile, India entered this contest with convincing victories over both Thailand and Hong Kong, further establishing their dominance in the tournament.

The Indian lineup for the match included notable players such as Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Richa Ghosh, along with Kaur herself leading the team. Pakistan’s squad featured players like Muneeba Ali and Fatima Sana, setting the stage for an exciting encounter.