‘You can’t keep everything inside’ – Veda Krishnamurthy on Harmanpreet Kaur’s emotional return to form

Veda Krishnamurthy (Photo Source: BCCI Women’s)

Harmanpreet Kaur scored 91 not out off 41 balls on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, against Zimbabwe in the third and final T20 International at Raipur. India beat Zimbabwe by 92 runs to complete a 3-0 series win. The unbeaten 91 marked a significant return to form for the 37-year-old after a lean run in T20 Internationals, and it became the highest individual score by an Indian batter in a women’s T20 International on home soil, surpassing Smriti Mandhana’s previous record of 80 against Sri Lanka in December 2025.

Harmanpreet had not scored a half-century in her previous 10 matches before this knock. Her last fifty-plus score came when she made 56 against Australia at the T20 World Cup in June. The unbeaten 91 was her second-highest T20I score, behind the 103 she made against New Zealand in 2018. Kaur visibly struggled to hold back tears during the post-innings interview, reflecting the emotional weight of the performance. Former India cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy has backed Harmanpreet’s importance to the national side after the experienced batter returned to form

“I think that’s exactly what is expected of her. Even though she’s not the captain now, she’s still a key batter India would want to have in the line-up, especially with the upcoming Champions Trophy campaign in Indian conditions. Having the experience of someone like Harman is important, and it’s important that she gets runs as well. So, it was good to see her back among the runs,” Krishnamurthy said on JioStar.

However, it was not just Harmanpreet’s batting performance that caught Krishnamurthy’s attention. Her emotional reaction also prompted the former India player to reflect on how the senior batter expresses herself both on and off the field.

“There’s a lot of passion when you’re playing cricket, and passion also brings emotion. Certain players have a tendency not to show it, but Harman is someone who’s shown those emotions in the past as well, whether it is on the field or during interviews. She’s someone who wears her heart on her sleeve, someone who probably expresses a lot more than other players. Sometimes you can’t keep everything inside, and you feel good when you express yourself. Then you saw her on the field, smiling and laughing around. That’s how Harman is,” Krishnamurthy said.

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