Harmanpreet Kaur Surpasses Meg Lanning With Record 77 T20I Wins as Captain

Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur etched her name into the record books on Saturday, December 27, 2025, by surpassing Australia's Meg Lanning to become the most successful captain in women's T20I history in terms of wins. The milestone came during the third T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium, where India registered a commanding eight-wicket victory to sweep the five-match series 3-0. With this triumph, Harmanpreet now has 77 wins from 130 matches as T20I captain (48 losses and five no results), boasting a win percentage of 58.46. In comparison, Lanning, widely regarded as one of the greatest leaders in the format, had amassed 76 victories in just 100 matches with a superior win percentage of 76, along with four T20 World Cup titles to her name.

The match itself showcased India's dominance across departments. After winning the toss and electing to field, India restricted Sri Lanka to 112 for 7 in their 20 overs. Imesha Dulani top-scored with 27 off 32 balls, while Hasini Perera (25 off 18) and Kavisha Dilhari (20 off 13) provided brief resistance. Spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma stole the spotlight with figures of 3 for 18, becoming the first Indian cricketer (across men's and women's cricket) to take 150 T20I wickets and also emerging as the format's leading wicket-taker for India. Pacer Renuka Singh complemented her with a superb 4 for 21, dismantling the Sri Lankan middle order and ensuring a chaseable total.

In the run-chase, opener Shafali Verma unleashed a breathtaking innings, remaining unbeaten on 79 off just 42 balls, studded with 11 fours and three sixes. Her aggressive strokeplay, combined with Harmanpreet's steady 21 off 18 balls (including two fours), saw India overhaul the target in a mere 13.2 overs. The victory marked Shafali's second successive half-century in the series and underlined her prolific form in 2025—333 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 55.50 and a strike rate exceeding 173, including three fifties and a highest score of 79 not out.

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Harmanpreet's record-breaking achievement as captain adds to her growing legacy, especially after guiding India to their maiden ICC Women's T20 World Cup triumph earlier in 2025. The milestone reflects her tactical acumen, consistency, and ability to inspire the team through challenging phases. With the next T20 World Cup scheduled for June-July 2026 in the UK, where India will feature in a strong Group A alongside powerhouses Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan, Harmanpreet has a golden opportunity to lead the side to further glory and potentially add a second T20 World Cup title to her resume.

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