Learnt from our previous errors, and hopefully we’re on the opposite aspect this time, says Harmanpreet Kaur forward of World Cup

To lead the nation in a house World Cup is a uncommon honour. But when India meets Sri Lanka on September 30 in Guwahati within the ICC Women’s World Cup opener, Harmanpreet Kaur could have that bestowed on her.

The 36-year-old is understandably happy, and desirous to turn out to be India’s first World Cup-winning captain, hoping to erase previous reminiscences of getting misplaced within the ultimate twice – in 2005 to Australia and in 2017 to England.

“I’m certain this time we are going to cross this line,” Harmanpreet mentioned right here on Friday on the Captains’ Day occasion. “We have been taking part in good cricket and we’re solely speaking about having fun with this second. We have learnt from our [past] errors, and hopefully this time we can be on the opposite aspect.”

In this quest, a shot within the arm is Smriti Mandhana’s kind, with the world’s best-ranked ODI batter making scores of 125, 117 and 58 in opposition to the visiting Aussies lately.

“She’s been nice, to be sincere,” Harmanpreet said. “The approach she’s batting these days… it’s actually thrilling to look at from exterior. Especially after I’m batting along with her, issues are fairly simple. You don’t have to stress an excessive amount of as a result of she’s all the time there to assist, and having her is an enormous energy for us.”

But the skipper is aware of it is going to be a tightly contested World Cup. “Every workforce has an equal likelihood to win, and that reveals that we have now actually raised the usual of ladies’s cricket,” she opined.

“We now have packed stadiums. That is one thing we actually take pleasure in as a result of we have now by no means seen that earlier than. It’s been a extremely excellent journey thus far and we’re actually trying ahead to this World Cup, and lots of extra years forward.”