Key Points
- Research suggests Harmanpreet Kaur, born March 8, 1989, in Moga, Punjab, is a prominent Indian cricketer and captain of the India women’s national team, known for her aggressive batting style.
- It seems likely that her family includes father Harmandar Singh Bhullar, a former volleyball and basketball player now a clerk, mother Satwinder Kaur, and sister Hemjeet, an assistant professor.
- The evidence leans toward her cricket career starting in 2009, with notable achievements like an unbeaten 171 in the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup and leading Mumbai Indians to WPL titles in 2023 and 2025, though there are controversies regarding her educational claims.
Early Life and Family
Harmanpreet Kaur, born on March 8, 1989, in Moga, Punjab, India, grew up in a supportive family. Her father, Harmandar Singh Bhullar, was a former volleyball and basketball player who now works as a clerk at a judicial court and was her first cricket coach. Her mother, Satwinder Kaur, is a homemaker, and she has a younger sister, Hemjeet, who is a post-graduate in English and works as an assistant professor at Guru Nanak College in Moga. The family follows the Sikh faith, with both parents being baptised Sikhs.
Education and Early Career
Harmanpreet was schooled at Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya in Jalandhar, Punjab, and pursued her first year of graduation but dropped out due to cricket commitments. She later claimed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, but an investigation found no records, confirming the claim was fabricated, which has been a point of controversy.
Cricket Career Highlights
Debuting internationally in 2009, Harmanpreet is known for her aggressive batting, inspired by Virender Sehwag. She became the first Indian woman to score a T20I century in 2018 and has over 3,000 runs in T20Is, making her a standout player. Her leadership roles include taking over as T20I captain in 2016 and full-time captain in 2022, leading India to a 3-0 whitewash against England in 2022. She also captained Mumbai Indians to WPL titles in 2023 and 2025, marking her as a trailblazer in women’s cricket.
Survey Note: Comprehensive Biography of Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar, born on March 8, 1989, in Moga, Punjab, India, is a celebrated Indian cricketer and the current captain of the India women’s national cricket team across all formats. Known for her aggressive batting and all-round capabilities, she has significantly influenced women’s cricket, both on and off the field. This detailed biography explores her early life, family, education, cricket career, leadership roles, awards, and personal life, drawing from multiple reliable sources including Wikipedia, ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, and Cricket.com.au.
Personal Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar |
| Date of Birth | March 8, 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Moga, Punjab, India |
| Father | Harmandar Singh Bhullar (former volleyball and basketball player, now a clerk at a judicial court) |
| Mother | Satwinder Kaur (homemaker) |
| Sister | Hemjeet (post-graduate in English, assistant professor at Guru Nanak College, Moga) |
| Education | – School: Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, Punjab – Claimed BA from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut (fabricated) |
| Religion | Sikh (both parents are baptised Sikhs) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɑːr.mən.priːt ˈkɔːr/ (HAHR-mən-preet KOR) |
Early Life and Family
Harmanpreet was born to Harmandar Singh Bhullar and Satwinder Kaur, a homemaker. Her father, a former volleyball and basketball player, now works as a clerk at a judicial court and was her first cricket coach, fostering her early interest in the sport. She has a younger sister, Hemjeet, who is a post-graduate in English and serves as an assistant professor at Guru Nanak College in Moga. The family follows the Sikh faith, with both parents being baptised Sikhs. Harmanpreet’s early exposure to cricket came through playing with both men and women, influenced by her father’s passion for the game.
Education and Early Career
Harmanpreet’s education included studies at Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya in Jalandhar, Punjab, under Guru Nanak Dev University. She pursued her first year of graduation but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with cricket tournaments, as her principal was non-adjusting. She later claimed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, but an investigation by university officials found no records, confirming the claim was fabricated. This issue came to light when she was appointed honorary deputy superintendent of police by Punjab Police, prompting educational verification.
Her cricket journey began at the Gian Jyoti School Academy, 30 km from her home in Moga, where she trained under coach Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi. Initially a medium-pace all-rounder, she played with men in her formative years, showcasing her talent early on. In 2014, she moved to Mumbai and started working for Indian Railways, balancing her professional and sporting careers.
Cricket Career and Achievements
Harmanpreet made her international debut in 2009, featuring in the ICC Women’s World Cup and the ICC Women’s World Twenty20. Her aggressive batting style, inspired by Virender Sehwag and also influenced by Ajinkya Rahane, has been a hallmark of her game. She is known for her ability to “see ball, hit ball,” a mantra reflecting her fearless approach.
One of her most iconic performances was during the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final against Australia, where she scored an unbeaten 171 off 115 balls, the highest individual score by an Indian in Women’s World Cup history. This innings helped India reach the final, though they lost to England. Her statistics are impressive, with over 3,000 runs in T20Is, making her the only Indian woman with this milestone, and she is one of only three Indian women with over 3,000 runs in ODIs.
Harmanpreet has been a trailblazer in international leagues. In 2016, she became the first Indian cricketer, male or female, to sign with the Big Bash League, joining Sydney Thunder, where she won the Player of the Tournament. In 2017, she was the first Indian to sign with the Kia Super League, playing for Surrey Stars. Her team affiliations include Sydney Thunder Women, Supernovas, Lancashire Thunder, India A Women, Manchester Originals Women, Melbourne Renegades Women, Mumbai Indians Women, and Trent Rockets Women, showcasing her global presence.
Leadership and Impact
Harmanpreet’s leadership journey began in 2013 when she captained the team during Mithali Raj’s rest period for a limited-overs series against Bangladesh. She took over the T20I captaincy in 2016 and became the full-time captain in 2022 after Raj’s retirement, leading the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. Under her captainship, India whitewashed England 3-0 in 2022, a historic series win. She also led Mumbai Indians to multiple Women’s Premier League (WPL) titles, winning in 2023 and 2025, making history as the first team to secure multiple titles in the league.
Awards and Recognition
In 2017, Harmanpreet was honored with the Arjuna Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for her outstanding contributions to cricket. She was the first woman from India to score a century in a T20 International match and has been central to ad campaigns, endorsements, and central contracts, enhancing the visibility of women’s cricket.
Controversies
- Educational Qualification: Harmanpreet claimed to have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, but an investigation found no records, confirming the claim was fabricated, which has been a point of controversy.
- 2023 Asian Games Incident: During the 2023 Asian Games, Harmanpreet was banned for two matches for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. She was found guilty of two Level 1 and one Level 2 breaches, including public criticism of match officials and disrespecting the opposing team, making her the first women’s player to receive a Level 2 sanction since the ICC began listing breaches publicly in 2016.
Personal Life and Influence
Harmanpreet does not smoke or drink alcohol, reflecting her disciplined approach to her career. She is known for her mentorship of younger players and has been a role model in elevating women’s cricket through endorsements and ad campaigns. Her pronunciation is noted as /ˈhɑːr.mən.priːt ˈkɔːr/ (HAHR-mən-preet KOR), and she continues to inspire with her dedication and achievements.
Summary Table of Key Milestones
| Milestone | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| International Debut | 2009 | ICC Women’s World Cup and World Twenty20 |
| First Indian in Big Bash League | 2016 | Signed with Sydney Thunder, won Player of Tournament |
| First Indian in Kia Super League | 2017 | Played for Surrey Stars |
| Arjuna Award | 2017 | Recognized for cricket excellence |
| Unbeaten 171 in World Cup Semi-Final | 2017 | Against Australia, highest individual score by Indian |
| T20I Captaincy | 2016 | Took over from Mithali Raj |
| Full-Time Captaincy | 2022 | After Mithali Raj’s retirement |
| Multiple WPL Titles with Mumbai Indians | 2023, 2025 | First team to secure multiple titles |
This biography encapsulates Harmanpreet Kaur’s journey from a small town in Punjab to becoming a global icon in women’s cricket, highlighting her contributions and the controversies, such as the educational claim, with a balanced and comprehensive approach.
Supporting URLs:
- Wikipedia – Harmanpreet Kaur
- ESPNcricinfo – Harmanpreet Kaur Profile
- Cricbuzz – Harmanpreet Kaur Profile
- Cricket.com.au – Harmanpreet Kaur
- NDTV Sports – Mumbai Indians Win WPL 2025
- Times of India – WPL 2025 Final