Harmanpreet Kaur Roars Past Mithali Raj With Gutsy Century vs Zimbabwe

Harmanpreet Kaur chose the perfect stage to make history. With India wobbling at 19/2 in Vadodara, she produced a composed, counterattacking century against Zimbabwe, going past Mithali Raj to become India Women’s second-highest ODI century-maker.

Rescue Act When India Needed It Most

India were in early trouble in the second ODI of the three-match series. Skipper Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were both back in the dugout, and Zimbabwe smelled an opening.

Harmanpreet walked in at No. 4 with the scoreboard reading 19/2. Instead of retreating into a shell, she fought back with intent and steadied the innings.

The 124-Run Partnership With Pratika Rawal

The turning point came through a crucial 124-run stand with Pratika Rawal. The pair rebuilt the innings, rotated the strike smartly and punished loose deliveries.

That partnership took the pressure off India and shifted the momentum firmly in their favour. A potential collapse turned into a platform for a big total.

A Century Built on Calm and Class

Harmanpreet reached her hundred in 101 balls, with 12 boundaries by that point. It was a knock defined by composure rather than chaos, with timing and placement doing the heavy lifting.

She eventually fell for 126 off 121 balls, having hit 15 fours and no sixes. It is her third-highest ODI score and an innings that should settle plenty of nerves around the team.

Momentum After the Captaincy Change

The century comes on the back of an unbeaten 91 in the third T20I against Zimbabwe. It also follows her decision to step down from captaincy, and the bat has clearly stayed loud.

Freed from leadership duties, she looks relaxed and aggressive at the crease. Two big knocks in two formats underline her form.

Past Mithali Raj in the Century Charts

With her eighth ODI hundred, Harmanpreet moved ahead of Mithali Raj, who finished with seven. Only Smriti Mandhana, with 14 centuries, now sits above her among Indian women.

She got there in her 144th ODI innings, a milestone that adds weight to an already decorated career.

More Milestones on Home Soil

The Vadodara hundred also took Harmanpreet past 2,000 ODI runs in India. She now joins Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana in that elite club.

Only two other Indian women have scored more ODI runs at home, and Harmanpreet is closing in on both.

Knock at a Glance

Why This Hundred Matters

This was more than a record. It was a reminder of what Harmanpreet brings when India are under pressure: big-match temperament and the ability to change a game’s direction.

With the series on the line and her bat in rhythm, India will hope the best is still to come. Harmanpreet Kaur is climbing the all-time charts, and she is doing it in style.

More updates to follow as the series unfolds.