Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur is expected to put on a show on Sunday when they play South Africa in Manchester, becoming the first player – male or female – to appear in 200 T20 Internationals.This milestone comes during the Women’s T20 World Cup and is a journey that has spanned 17 years, touching several generations of cricketers and the growth of women’s cricket around the world.Ireland’s Paul Stirling has played the most matches in Men’s T20Is (163), while Rohit Sharma he is second in the men’s team with 159 T20Is. In women’s T20Is, Kaur is currently on top with 199 matches and is followed by New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (184). Australian legend Ellyse Perry is ranked 4th in WT20Is with 177 matches.Kaur made her T20I debut in the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup in England in 2009. Seventeen years later, she is set to play her 200th match in the 10th edition of the tournament. Only six other players who played with him in 2009 are currently playing international cricket.The 37-year-old will lead India in the crucial Group A match against South Africa at Old Trafford.Indian bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi appreciated Kaur’s contribution to the game and the team.“I think Harman is a great athlete,” he said. “He’s a role model for almost all cricketers in the world. The way he’s been over the years he’s been a role model all along. He’s been a player in every format. He’s playing his 200th T20, that’s a big thing. And we’re all excited to see him play.”Salvi also highlighted the work Kaur does in mentoring young players.“And the working practices, they continue to work on the important things. They share a lot with the young people. So that is also the part that they come in. Sometimes, there is a lot that is there, but from someone who has done very well at the highest level, the little points that he shares with the players, which really help to promote the careers of many young people,” he added.South African player Chloe Tryon, who plays alongside Kaur for the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League, also acknowledged the Indian captain’s success.“200 games is a lot. She makes it easy. I’ve had the opportunity to play alongside her, and watch her do her things. It’s been amazing to watch her journey, when I was a little girl, just looking up to the big players. She’s been a role model for a lot of people around the world. To see her still playing cricket is amazing, and leading from the front to see how much she can push, but look, it’s great to see how the women’s game has grown and how far it’s gone. advance the game.“South Africa go into the tournament looking for a win after losing to Australia in the opening game in Manchester before defeating Pakistan at Edgbaston.So far India have won both their matches, defeating Pakistan and Netherlands.Although India made a strong start to the tournament, South Africa have fared better in recent meetings between the two teams. The Proteas recently won the five-match T20I at home 4-1.
