India women's vice-captain Smriti Mandhana extended heartfelt congratulations to skipper Harmanpreet Kaur after the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) unveiled a stand in her honour at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on December 12, 2025. Reposting a BCCI video of the ceremony on her Instagram story, Mandhana wrote, "Congratulations, @imharmanpreet_kaur!! What a day for women's cricket, and so proud of you!"

The inauguration, attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, PCA President Amarjit Mehta, BCCI President Mithun Manhas, and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, also saw a stand named after legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. Harmanpreet, visibly emotional, described the moment as a proud payoff for years of struggle, noting it would inspire young players watching from the venue where she began her career.

Harmanpreet, who hails from Moga in Punjab, becomes the third Indian woman cricketer—and the only active player—to have a stadium stand named after her, joining Jhulan Goswami (Eden Gardens) and Mithali Raj (Visakhapatnam). The honour follows her historic leadership in guiding India to their maiden senior ICC women's trophy at the T20 World Cup last month.

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During the ceremony, cash rewards were distributed: ₹11 lakh each to Harmanpreet, Amanjot Kaur, and Harleen Deol, alongside ₹5 lakh to fielding coach Munish Bali for their contributions to the World Cup triumph.

The dual naming celebrates Punjab's rich cricketing legacy while spotlighting the rising prominence of women's cricket, with Harmanpreet's achievement marking a motivational milestone for aspiring athletes in the state.

This recognition underscores growing institutional support for women's games in India, coming amid continued celebrations of the team's global success.

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