The Brabourne Stadium was still buzzing when Mumbai Indians (MI), freshly crowned Women’s Premier League (WPL) winners for a second time in front of their home fans, took a lap of honour. Among the last faces in that champions’ crowd was Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper walking a tad slower, behind the exuberant pace-setters. Moments later, she sprang a couple of steps forward and leapt to embrace Jhulan Goswami and the two held that pose for a few seconds.

As champions of the inaugural season who came up just short in the Eliminator last year, Harmanpreet was eager to recreate such scenes and bring MI back to where she believed they belonged. For that, she knew a few tweaks had to be made — within the team and in herself as a batter.

It brought out the best of MI as a unit, and Harmanpreet as a match-winner and clutch player. In MI’s hectic final home stretch that featured four games in six days, the last two being high-pressure knockouts, Harmanpreet’s scores read 54 (33b), 20 (18b), 36 (12b) and 66 (44b).

After a bit of a subdued start to the season, Harmanpreet stepped up when it mattered, and signed off with her best WPL outing in terms of runs (302) and strike rate (155).

Like world-class players often do, she saved her best for the last against Delhi Capitals. Reading the match situation and conditions brilliantly in the company of Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet rode the early storm without going into her shell. She picked the right time (once Marizanne Kapp had been bowled out) and the bowlers (Annabel Sutherland and Jess Jonassen) to counterattack. From being 10 off her first 14 balls, she ended up scoring 56 off the next 30.

“We tried to keep things simple, and whoever was there took calculated risks at that time,” Harmanpreet said at the presentation ceremony.

This season, Harmanpreet has frequently taken calculated risks much earlier in her innings. Her strike rate has risen to 155, compared to 141 in 2024 and 135 in 2023, which illustrates this change. In last year’s Eliminator, while chasing 136 against RCB, she scored a cautious 33 runs off 30 balls. Once she was dismissed in the 18th over, MI struggled, and that loss had a lasting impact.

“We had an extensive discussion then, and prior to the start of this season, we agreed that either Nat or Harman should remain at the crease for the entire innings,” stated Devieka Palshikaar, MI’s batting coach, earlier this week. “She dedicates significant time to practice against both spin and pace, focusing on the need to be present until the end.”

Charlotte Edwards, MI’s head coach, noted that this year’s discussions with Harmanpreet primarily focused on “being aggressive” and “applying pressure on the bowlers.”

“When she performs at her peak, she ranks among the best in the world, as evidenced in the last few matches,” she remarked to reporters.

Harmanpreet excels when supported by a strong team. The contributions of Sciver-Brunt, who amassed a WPL record 523 runs at No. 3, and Hayley Matthews, who scored 307 runs at the top, were pivotal. Additionally, crucial late innings performances from Amanjot Kaur (14 runs off 7 balls in the final), G Kamalini (10 runs off 7 balls), and Sajeevan Sajana were significant.

“Having experienced players like Sciver-Brunt and Matthews around her allows Harman to play freely, especially in the past week,” Edwards commented.

The previous week showcased Harmanpreet as an exceptional batter, leader, competitor, and, most importantly for MI, a clutch player.

“She is intensely competitive and was determined to secure another title,” Edwards said on Saturday. “Tonight, she did everything within her power to achieve that, didn’t she?”

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