Nita Ambani: Harmanpreet Kaur will inspire Mumbai Indians to play their best cricket

Mumbai Indians team owner Nita Ambani and captain Harmanpreet Kaur

Nita Ambani said Harmanpreet Kaur will inspire Mumbai Indians to play their best cricket after Kaur was announced as the captain of its women’s team ahead of the inaugural season of Women’s Premier League 2023. She was signed by Mumbai Indians for Rs 1.80 crore in the auction held in Mumbai last month.

"We are thrilled to have Harmanpreet as the captain of Mumbai Indians’ first-ever women’s cricket team," owner Nita Ambani said in a statement on Wednesday. "As the national captain, she has led the Indian Women’s team to some of their most exciting wins. And I am sure that with Charlotte (Edwards) and Jhulan’s (Goswami) support, she will inspire our MI women’s team to play their best cricket, display a sense of pride, and bring even more glory to women in sports."

"We are so looking forward to the beginning of this new chapter for MI! I can’t wait to see our girls play the fearless and entertaining MI brand of cricket that our fans adore. More power to Harmanpreet and the entire MI team on this exciting journey ahead!” she added.

Women’s Premier League 2023 is scheduled between March 4 and March 26. The first match will be played between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants on March 4 at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Harmanpreet Kaur, who recently became the first cricketer to play 150 T20Is, has been a pillar for the national team for over a decade now across formats, since making her debut at the age of 20. The national team captain, who is an Arjuna Awardee, has a solid winning record, and also holds the record for the highest ever individual score in a knockout game in a Women's World Cup match (171*).

Harmanpreet Kaur has played against head coach Charlotte Edwards and has played with and captained Jhulan Goswami. She has been influential in showcasing the best of Indian cricket to the world, being the first Indian to play in T20 leagues in other parts of the world.