Ace dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh scored a hat-trick as the Indian men's hockey team eked out a narrow 4-3 win over England in the second match of the double-leg FIH Pro League tie in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored a brace each to hand India a 5-3 victory over World champions Germany in the second hockey Test, but the hosts lost the two-match series via shoot-out at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, in Delhi, on Thursday.
India and Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes the upcoming edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) will play a crucial role in the team's preparation for the ODI World Cup, which India is hosting later this year. She also highlighted the impressive performance of the India U-19 women's team, who recently won their second T20 World Cup title. Mumbai Indians' bowling coach and team mentor, Jhulan Goswami, expressed confidence in the team's composition and the impact of the WPL on women's cricket in India.
Trailing by two goals, Spain pressed on the accelerator, earning a couple of penalty corners in the final quarter but the Indian defence stood tall in the absence of skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who was rested for the game.
India continued their dominance over Ireland, defeating the visitors 4-0 in their return leg men's FIH Pro League match.
IMAGES from the Women's T20 World Cup match between India and Australia in Sharjah on Sunday
Maintaining a clean slate, favourites India will fancy their chances when they take on a below-par but unpredictable Korea in the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Hulunbuir, China on Monday.
India along with New Zealand and Pakistan are in contention for the last remaining semi-final spot from Group A.
'We have a talented side, and we'll go upwards as we play more'
Images from the Women's T20 World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka in Dubai on Wednesday.
Men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet, under whose leadership India won a second successive bronze medal at the Olympics, said the honour is a recognition of his "fascinating" journey in which he still has plenty more to achieve.
India T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur and young batter Jemimah Rodrigues will play for Melbourne Renegades in the upcoming Women's Big Bash League.
Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana remained in third place while Laura Wolvaardt retained her top spot.
The feeling of near misses has haunted Harmanpreet Kaur for long but the Indian captain feels that her team has ticked all the boxes in its bid to cross the line in the Women's T20 World Cup beginning in the UAE from October 3.
India will have to regroup quickly and iron out the imbalances in team combination when they face arch-rivals Pakistan in a crucial second group A match of the Women's T20 World Cup in Dubai on Sunday
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur leads a bunch of India players who have made rapid gains in the MRF Tyres ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings after some excellent performances that helped complete a 3-0 sweep over England in their ICC Women's Championship (IWC) series.
'Fitness and fielding are two things I want my team to improve'
Indian women set to play Test in Australia after England
'With this bronze medal, the team has proved that Indian Hockey is back on track.' 'We are a force to be reckoned with and on our day, we can really be unstoppable.'
The women's exhibition games were confirmed by the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly last week. The Indian team has not played since T20 World Cup final in March.
Harmanpreet Kaur got back among the runs with a 63-run knock in the fifth ODI against New Zealand and followed that up with a century (104) in the World Cup warm-up match against South Africa.
Smriti Mandhana extended her purple patch with a classy knock before pacer Renuka Thakur excelled with the new ball
Indian all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur played a crucial knock of 35 runs, as Melbourne Renegades defeated Sydney Sixers by seven wickets in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) match in Launceston.
Scoring field goals was a major concern in Paris but here the young forwardline comprising Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal and others have exceeded expectations.
The Ambani wedding in Mumbai wasn't just a star-studded affair, it was a reunion for Indian cricket royalty -- past and present.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's sturdy middle-order, in-form skipper Smriti Mandhana and a partisan home crowd will be the major challenges UP Warriorz will have to contend with when the two teams clash in the Women's Premier League match in Bengaluru on Monday.
The Ireland women's team has never beaten India in the 12 ODIs they have played against them.
India's hockey team skipper Harmanpreet Singh and veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh expressed disappointment at not being able to realise their goal of winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but said a bronze will be at least better than returning home empty-handed.
Harmanpreet said all of it helped when the team was faced with nervy situations like the the quarter-final against Britain, when they were reduced to 10 men for more than 40 minutes after Amit Rohidas was red-carded for dangerous play.
India, who will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will launch their campaign with a clash against Sri Lanka
India opener Smriti Mandhana has climbed to the second spot in the latest ICC women's ODI batting rankings following a stellar series against Ireland.
Kaur cited the example of men's IPL where youngsters get to play with the cream of world cricket.
Smriti Mandhana finally played a knock befitting her calibre as India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the deciding game to seal the three-match Women's ODI series 2-1 in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
India players were sloppy on the field, giving away too many extra runs and also dropping some catches.
Several of India's former and current cricketers hailed batting sensation Harmanpreet Kaur after her magnificent century powered India into the final of the ICC Women's World Cup following a 36-run victory against Australia in the semi-finals, in Derby, on Thursday.
Sciver-Brunt smashed a 39-ball 57, her second consecutive half-century, after taking two wickets for 26, as MI first bowled out GG for a modest 120 and then chased down the target, scoring 122 for 5 with 3.5 overs to spare.
It was on this day that Harmanpreet went on to play a match-winning knock of 171 not out against Australia in the semi-finals of the ICC Women's World Cup.
As the final hooter rang through the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium, sealing the Indian hockey team's bronze medal triumph, an electrifying wave of emotions swept through the families of the victorious players.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur came much cheaper for Mumbai Indians at nearly half the price of Mandhana at Rs 1.80 crore.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur lauded the bowlers after the team's triumphant campaign in the Women's Asia Cup, which ended with a lop-sided win in the final against Sri Lanka in Sylhet, Bangladesh, on Saturday.
