Harmanpreet Kaur reached a significant milestone in women’s international cricket on December 26, 2025, when she recorded her 77th victory as captain in Women’s T20 Internationals, surpassing Meg Lanning’s long-standing record of 76 wins.
The landmark moment came during India’s eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, a result that also gave India an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series.
The record is the culmination of a leadership tenure that has spanned nearly a decade in the shortest format. Appointed India’s full-time T20I captain in October 2016, Harmanpreet has led the side through phases of transition, growth, and sustained competitiveness. Unlike her Australian counterpart Lanning, whose record was built during an era of near-total dominance, Harmanpreet’s achievement reflects longevity and continuity in a team that has steadily climbed the global ladder.
The third T20I itself followed a familiar script seen throughout the series. India opted to field first and controlled the game through disciplined bowling. Sri Lanka were restricted to 112 for 7 in 20 overs, never quite finding momentum against an Indian attack that operated with clarity and control. Renuka Singh led the effort with figures of 4 for 21, striking at key moments and preventing Sri Lanka from building partnerships. Deepti Sharma complemented her with a tight spell of 3 for 18, applying pressure through the middle overs.
Chasing a modest target, India’s response was decisive. Shafali Verma’s unbeaten 79 off 42 balls ensured the chase was completed in 13.2 overs, with Harmanpreet herself finishing the match unbeaten on 21. The manner of the win underlined India’s control and provided a fitting backdrop for the captain’s record-breaking moment.
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Statistically, Harmanpreet now stands alone at the top of the list of most successful women’s T20I captains. She has reached 77 wins in 130 matches, compared to Lanning’s 76 wins in 100 matches. While Lanning’s win percentage remains higher, Harmanpreet’s record reflects a different leadership journey one built over a longer period, across changing squads, and through evolving tactical demands.
Beyond the numbers, Harmanpreet’s captaincy has coincided with India’s growing consistency in global tournaments. Under her leadership, India reached the semi-finals of the 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup and the final of the 2020 edition in Australia. Although those campaigns ended without a title, they marked India’s emergence as a regular contender rather than an occasional challenger.
Her captaincy has also been defined by adaptability. Over the years, Harmanpreet has overseen shifts in India’s playing style, particularly in T20 cricket, where the emphasis has increasingly been on intent and depth. The rise of aggressive top-order batting, supported by a versatile bowling attack, has been a hallmark of the side during her tenure. The current series against Sri Lanka reflected that approach, with India consistently aiming to finish chases early and decisively.
Individually, Harmanpreet’s own contributions with the bat have remained central to her leadership. She remains India’s second-highest run-scorer in women’s T20Is and holds the record for most runs by a player batting at number four in the format. Her ability to manage chases and stabilize innings has often allowed others around her to play with freedom.
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The significance of the 77th win also lies in its timing. It comes in a year where Indian women’s cricket has continued to consolidate its position on the world stage. The consistency shown across formats in 2025 has provided context to Harmanpreet’s milestone, placing it within a broader phase of stability and results rather than as an isolated achievement.
It is also notable that the record was achieved in a routine bilateral series rather than a high-profile final. That, in itself, reflects how Harmanpreet’s captaincy has been built incrementally, through sustained results over time rather than through a single defining moment. Her leadership arc has been one of accumulation, both in victories and in experience.
As India continue the series against Sri Lanka and look ahead to future international assignments, Harmanpreet Kaur’s record now stands as a benchmark for longevity and leadership in women’s T20 cricket. The numbers place her above all others, but the broader story is of a captain who has guided Indian women’s cricket through a crucial phase of its evolution, turning competitiveness into consistency.
The 77th win may read as a statistic in the record books, but it also represents nearly a decade of stewardship at the highest level one that has reshaped India’s standing in the shortest format of the game.
