India batter Harmanpreet Kaur has revealed that spending around five hours every day practising in the nets played a major role in her return to form ahead of the women's T20 International series against Zimbabwe. The former India captain delivered a sensational unbeaten 91 off just 41 balls in the third and final T20I, helping India secure a comprehensive victory. Her innings marked a significant turnaround after a difficult period with the bat and highlighted the impact of dedicated preparation and support from her coaches.
Harmanpreet struck 10 boundaries and five sixes during her explosive knock, helping India post 216 for seven in 20 overs. Her performance contributed to India's 92-run victory over Zimbabwe, completing a 3-0 sweep of the T20I series. The innings came after she had struggled to produce substantial scores in recent matches, including during the Women's T20 Asia Cup and the Asian Games. She had gone 10 matches without scoring a half-century before rediscovering her rhythm against Zimbabwe.
Speaking after the match, Harmanpreet explained that she had devoted considerable time to batting practice before the series. She worked on several drills and spent approximately four to five hours daily in the nets to familiarise herself with the conditions and prepare for the challenges ahead. The additional practice helped her develop confidence and repeat the batting techniques she wanted to use in matches. She credited the preparation for helping her regain timing and play with greater freedom at the crease.
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The 37-year-old also acknowledged the contribution of her batting coach, Himanshu Chawla, who had worked closely with her during the training sessions. Harmanpreet thanked him for his efforts and credited the work they had done together for her performance. She also expressed gratitude to former India women's team head coach WV Raman, who encouraged her to play freely and enjoy her time in the middle. During an emotional interview, she recalled his advice and became tearful while discussing the support she had received.
Harmanpreet's return to form followed her decision to step down as India's captain across formats before the Zimbabwe series, with Smriti Mandhana taking over the leadership role. She indicated that she now wanted to concentrate on enjoying cricket and making the most of her opportunities with the bat. Removing the responsibilities associated with captaincy has allowed her to approach her game with a different mindset, placing greater emphasis on performance and personal satisfaction.
The impressive innings offered Harmanpreet renewed confidence as India prepared for the subsequent three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, which began on October 23. She has stressed the importance of maintaining her fitness, continuing to work hard in the nets and repeating the processes that helped her succeed. Her comeback demonstrated how consistent practice, technical preparation and encouragement from experienced coaches can help an established international batter overcome a difficult run of form.
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