[Watch] AUS W vs IND W 2026: Proud Harmanpreet Kaur pats her own back after historic feat in 2nd T20I

Harmanpreet Kaur became the most-capped player in women’s international cricket with 356 appearances for India. She reached the landmark in the second T20I against Australia on Thursday, February 19. This game was played at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Harmanpreet surpassed New Zealand stalwart Suzie Bates’ record to script history. Among Indians, Mithali Raj has the second-most appearances with 333 caps to her name.

Before the highly-anticipated fixture between two behemoths of the sport, head coach Amol Muzumdar delivered a heartwarming speech to pay homage to Harmanpreet’s contribution to Indian women’s cricket.

“We are in such a state of Indian women’s cricket that every time somebody takes the field, it’s always a historic moment. But this is an absolutely special occasion because someone among our group is playing her 356th match,” Muzumdar said.

Harmanpreet was beaming with pride and even gave herself a pat on the back while her teammates clapped for her.

Most matches in international cricket

1. Harmanpreet Kaur (IND) – 356
2. Suzie Bates (NZ) – 355
3. Ellyse Perry (AUS) – 350
4. Mithali Raj (IND) – 333
5. Charlotte Edwards (ENG) – 309

Coming to the match, India won the toss and opted to field first. Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney added a brilliant 128-run stand for the first wicket inside 15 overs. However, India fought back strongly at the back end of the innings and gave away just 34 runs in the last five overs.

Chasing a 164-run target, the Indian openers put on a 57-run stand before Shafali Verma was dismissed in the seventh over. Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana also departed in quick succession, but Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh resurrected the ship.

They added 55 runs off 43 balls and kept India in the game. However, when the time came to up the ante at the death, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The hosts eventually restricted the tourists to 144/9 in 20 overs. Australia leveled the series 1-1 with this win.