On February 19th, Harmanpreet Kaur became the woman with the most appearances in international cricket when she captained India in their second T20I versus Australia, in Canberra. Playing in the game was her 356th international – more than New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, the previous record holder, and the most in the women’s game.
A landmark moment in Canberra
Going out for the second of three T20I matches, Harmanpreet reached a point which shows how often she’s played and how regularly she’s been picked. The 356th time she’s represented her country put her ahead of Suzie Bates, who had the most international games of any woman cricketer before this.
Before the game, at the toss, Harmanpreet talked about what it meant to her, saying ‘This is a really good thing for me. I hope to keep working hard for the team and to play for as long as possible.’ This showed both she was proud, and she was still committed to playing well in the future.
This happening while India are playing one of the very best women’s cricket teams makes it even more important, and getting the most caps on Australian ground is a nice addition to a very good career – the record will be something future players look to.
A career in all forms of the game, and in leagues
Harmanpreet has played so long because she’s done well in all the forms of cricket. She has played six Test matches, 161 One Day Internationals, and 189 T20 Internationals. These numbers show she has stayed fit and in good shape for many seasons.
The number of runs she’s scored shows how much she’s done with the bat. She has 200 runs in Tests, 4,409 runs in ODIs, and 3,784 runs in T20Is. These numbers put her with the best run-getters in women’s cricket today.
As well as playing for her country, Harmanpreet has always been in the top T20 leagues. She has played in 35 Women’s Premier League games, 62 Women’s Big Bash League games, and 10 games in The Hundred. Being in these leagues has made her game better and increased her effect on franchise cricket.
How she compares with other top players internationally
Harmanpreet is now ahead of many well-known players on the list of women with the most caps. Suzie Bates – who used to hold the record – is not far behind. Australia’s Ellyse Perry is third with 349 international appearances.
Other important players include Mithali Raj with 333 games and England captain Charlotte Edwards with 309. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine has 305 caps, and England’s Heather Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge have 303 and 302 respectively. These names show the range of eras and styles in the all-time list.
This comparison shows how much women’s cricket has, and how rare it is to have a long international career. To break this record, you need to be in good shape, to play well, and to be picked often in all forms of the game for many years.
Being a leader and the 2025 World Cup win
Harmanpreet being captain has helped India do well lately. She led India to their first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title in 2025, when they beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final. This win made her better known as both a player and a leader.
Her leadership is not only about what happens on the pitch. As captain, she has looked after a team with a mix of young and old players, helping the team through big tournaments and series of two-way games. These duties probably helped her to play in so many international games.
On the field, Harmanpreet has often done well when the pressure is on. Off the field, she still helps young players who are starting their professional careers in India and other countries.
What she’s done, and what will happen next
At 36, Harmanpreet is a link between the older and newer generations. Her record will be something players who want to be like her in India and all over the world will aim for. She has said she wants to keep playing and helping, which means her total could get even higher.
Her being in domestic leagues and international games will continue to change women’s cricket in business and in how well the teams play. The new record also shows how the calendar is growing, and how women cricketers can have long careers.
As international games become more often, and franchise competitions grow, Harmanpreet’s achievement shows how long you have to play and how you have to be able to change to be one of the best cricketers today. Her next games will show how far she can push a record which is now firmly hers.
