India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is set to create a milestone on Sunday when she takes the field against South Africa in Manchester, becoming the first player — male or female — to appear in 200 T20 Internationals.The landmark comes during the Women’s T20 World Cup and marks a journey that has stretched across 17 years, covering multiple generations of cricketers and the growth of women’s cricket on the global stage.Ireland’s Paul Stirling holds the record for playing most games in Men’s T20Is (163), while Rohit Sharma is at number two in men’s category with 159 T20Is. In women’s T20Is, Kaur is currently at top with 199 games and she is followed by New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (184). Australian legend Ellyse Perry is at nuber four in WT20Is with 177 games.Kaur made her T20I debut during the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup in England in 2009. Seventeen years later, she is preparing to play her 200th match in the format during the tournament’s 10th edition. Only six other players who were active alongside her in 2009 are still playing international cricket.The 37-year-old will lead India in a key Group A clash against South Africa at Old Trafford.India bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi praised Kaur’s contribution to the game and the team.“I think Harman is a top-level athlete,” he said. “She’s a role model for almost all cricketers globally. The way she has conducted herself over the years she’s been a role model throughout. She’s been a performer in any format. She’s playing her 200th T20, that’s a big thing. And we are all as excited to watch her perform.”Salvi also highlighted the role Kaur plays in guiding younger players.“And work ethics-wise, she keeps on working on the basics. She shares a lot of experience with the youngsters. So that also is a dimension where she comes in. At times, there is a lot of information available, but coming from someone who has performed so well at the highest level, those little minor points which she shares with the players, that actually help boost the careers of a lot of youngsters,” he added.South Africa all-rounder Chloe Tryon, who plays alongside Kaur for Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League, also acknowledged the Indian captain’s achievement.“200 games is a lot. She makes it sound easy. I’ve had the opportunity to play alongside her, watch her do her thing. It’s been remarkable to watch her journey, when I was a small girl as well, just looking up to big players. She’s been a role model for so many people around the world. To see her still playing cricket is amazing, and leading from the front, which is really good to see. Hopefully, she has 200 more. I don’t know how many more she can push through, but look, it’s great to see how the women’s game has grown and how she’s taken the game forward.“South Africa head into the contest needing a win after losing to Australia in their opening match in Manchester before beating Pakistan at Edgbaston.India, meanwhile, have won both their matches so far, defeating Pakistan and the Netherlands.Despite India’s strong start to the tournament, South Africa have enjoyed the upper hand in recent meetings between the two sides. The Proteas recently won a five-match T20I series at home 4-1.
