Mithali Raj has been Harmanpreet Kaur’s India teammate of 13 years and certainly knows more than a thing or two about her. To Mithali, her long-time colleague is a not just a very good player, but also “a role model” for a lot of girls in the country.
That said, Mithali doesn't support the current India Women captain’s behaviour in the final ODI against Bangladesh after being adjudged lbw.
“Being passionate and aggressive in your approach is fine, but we have a Meg Lanning, Rodger Federer and Sachin Tendulkar who have won almost everything there is to win. What makes them great role models is how they conduct themselves on the field and off it .
“To be honest, even though I understand it (Harmanpreet’s actions) was in the heat of the moment, her reaction to getting out and then smashing the stumps is not a good reaction from such a senior player,” Mithali, also the highest run-scorer (7,805) in women’s ODIs, told The Telegraph.
“The DRS came into women’s cricket only recently. Earlier, we used to have DRS only in World Cups. Many a times we weren’t satisfied with the standard of umpiring in bilateral series, but it doesn’t warrant this type of a reaction .
“It doesn’t do well for the batters who are slated to come after her. One wants to see one’s captain calm and composed.... So, in that context, it was absolutely wrong and rightly so, she (Harmanpreet) has been reprimanded for breach of conduct,” Mithali remarked.
Dignity matters
Harmanpreet carried on with her rants even during the joint photo session, aiming her barbs at Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty.
“A lot of things happen during the game. But when it’s over, you leave the things behind," Mithali said.
“The BCCI, along with other boards and the ICC, has done a lot to take the women’s game forward and all these incidents are not a good advertisement for the sport. Harman, as a leader androle model, should’ve left whatever had happened on the field itself.
“I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what exactly happened during the trophy photo session and I wouldn’t like to say anything on that. But, she’s an ambassador for the sport and the country. There’s a certain dignity with how we should conduct ourselves.”
