WPL 2026: ‘She’s such a reliable batter’ – Harmanpreet Kaur hailed after match-winning performance vs Gujarat Giants

Former wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim has hailed Mumbai Indians Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur for her batting masterclass against the Gujarat Giants in the sixth match of the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. Karim described Kaur’s innings as a masterclass and said that watching her bat is always a treat for the cricket fans. 

Mumbai Indians secured a thumping seven-wicket win over GG at the DY Patil Stadium, with Harmanpreet scoring a blistering 71 not out off 43 balls to chase down a challenging total. The inning was filled with breathtaking strokeplay under immense pressure. The cricketer-turned-commentator has said that the MI captain is among the most reliable batters in crunch situations. 

“It’s always a pleasure to watch Harmanpreet bat like this. The secret to her success, longevity, and consistency is her ability to adapt very quickly. That adaptability comes from two things; her awareness of the match situation and her ability to assess conditions early. She’s such a reliable batter because she plays the field so well,” he told via JioStar.

He further coined that she has a special ability to bat according to the field and can exploit the fielding side with her adaptive batting style, and that’s what makes her a dangerous finisher. The former India international was also impressed with Harmanpreet’s impressive record in the league, despite batting in the lower order. 

“She exploits the offside with ease and is equally strong on the leg side. That’s why she’s such a competent batter, especially in run chases like this. She has that rare ability to coil and uncoil at the right moment. Her massive backlift and the arc of her downswing make it extremely difficult for bowlers to contain her,” he continued. 

“She finds gaps with ease, whether against pace or spin. Her ability to read the game and finish matches is exceptional. Her WPL record speaks for itself; over 1,000 runs batting at number four, along with eight or nine fifties, shows the immense value and impact of her innings every time she walks out to bat,” he concluded. 

Record-breaking night for Harmanpreet

Harmanpreet’s dominant performance also took her career in the WPL to another level as she became only the second batter in the league’s history to surpass 1,000 runs, joining her MI teammate Nat Sciver-Brunt in the elite club. Her unbeaten 71 was also her 10th half-century in the WPL, the most by any player. Interestingly, five of her half-centuries in WPL have come against Gujarat Giants, also a record.