Harmanpreet Kaur Recalls How Diana Edulji’s SMS Helped her Score Big in the Quarters & Semi-Final
Aug 14, 2017 at 4:40 PM
One of the mainstays of the Indian Women’s cricket team, Harmanpreet Kaur was felicitated by the Mumbai Cricket Association at the Garware Club House on Saturday.
During her felicitation, Harman recalled how former captain Diana Edulji motivated her to score big ahead of the quarter final and semi-final clashes against New Zealand and Australia, respectively. Ahead of the must win clash against New Zealand, Harman had only scored 77 in the first 6 matches and looked totally out of sorts.
“Before our match against New Zealand, Diana madam sent me a text message, asking me why I’m in England and what I’m doing in the team. Firstly, there were all sorts of thoughts running across my mind and to top it all, this message arrived. I didn’t reply to her for the next two days. She then messaged again and asked, ‘You are not replying?’ I finally replied, saying ‘Wait, we are coming with the Cup’. She replied: ‘Firstly, I need your fifty.’ I scored half-century against New Zealand in that match,” recalled Harmanpreet.
The hard-hitting batswoman from Punjab also expressed her grief at India losing the final to England by just nine runs and hoped she could have scored those elusive nine runs which would have helped India to lift their maiden World Cup title.
“Before our semi-final against Australia, Diana madam asked me, ‘What now?’ I told her, I am focusing on the Cup and I am not bothered about my game, but I will do my best. When I scored an unbeaten 171 in the next innings, she congratulated me by saying ‘I am very happy’. Even at that time, I didn’t reply, because I was thinking only about winning the final. Now, whenever we attend such felicitation functions, we all do a rewind and question ourselves why we couldn’t score those nine runs and that makes us feel sad. I wish I could score those nine runs,” said Harmanpreet.
Harmanpreet scored a half-century against New Zealand in the final group game and followed it up with a breathtaking unbeaten 171 against the mighty Aussies which helped India qualify for the final for only the 2nd time in their history.