I have now seen the video of our skipper smashing the stumps over 20 times. And each time I have done so, I have been left with a sense of disbelief. Yes, it was intense out there and she was determined to win it for India. Yes, the umpire could have given her a bad decision and, in the absence of DRS, there was nothing she could do about it. Yes, the series was on the line. But to wait a few seconds and then smash the stumps with full force was not something befitting of and India captain and legend of the game.
There are millions who aspire to be Harmanpreet Kaur. Harry di to many, she is a role model. The face of the sport after the retirement of Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet, in a sense, stands for everything that is good about women’s cricket. She is celebrated, almost revered in circles, idolised by many, and has become a cult figure after winning the WPL. And that’s why it hurts. You don’t want the best to do things that disrespect the sport. That shows a sense of entitlement, that for her, anything is permissible.
As Sachin Tendulkar’s biographer, my obvious reference point is the man himself. Remember Steve Bucknor? Sachin could have smashed 20 sets of stumps in his career had he lost his cool in the same manner. He was also once given leg before wicket when the ball hit his shoulder. And yes, he was under far more pressure than Harman will ever feel. Sachin stayed patient, showed the temperament to digest the mistake and walk away. That’s when you become a true legend. Not by smashing stumps and showing entitlement.
This isn’t the first time that we have seen things from Harman that could have been avoided. Remember her losing it at Deepti Sharma in the 2017 World Cup semi-final? While the situation was intense, screaming and saying things to one’s partner, which could be heard the world over, wasn’t befitting or justified. And more so from a leader in the team.
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While the whole spirit-of-the-game argument is exaggerated and it is always about winning, there are certain boundaries that can’t be crossed. Smashing the stumps is one such. Nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies the act, and I, for one, would be very surprised if Harmanpreet isn’t sanctioned by the ICC. For a moment’s brain fade, she could end up harming her team. If she is suspended, India will miss out, and that’s where she should be more responsible as captain.
Her deputy, Smriti Mandhana, did really well in trying to defend her in the press conference. Smriti, may I say, was trying to defend the indefensible. But in doing so, she left a mark. She stood up for her skipper, and that’s what it should be like in a team. We win together and we lose together. There should never be an “I” in a team sport. It is always “We”. That’s what Smriti did, and kudos to her. But for Harman, this should be a huge lesson learnt. There are hundreds of examples in international cricket where batters have been given a raw deal by the umpires. Ask Sunil Gavaskar about Pakistani umpires, and you could write a whole book. But that does not mean Gavaskar or the Indian team refused to go to Pakistan. Never did they say that the High Commission needed to step in. Never did Sachin Tendulkar smash stumps and show a sense of entitlement.
Sport, most importantly, is also a life lesson. It teaches you how to lose. To accept defeat, and get better. To face reversals and stay resilient. That’s why it is sport. Harmanpreet can’t be cricket’s Nick Kyrgios equivalent. She is the Roger Federer of her sport, and that’s what she stands for. By doing a Kyrgios-like act, she isn’t doing justice to herself or the sport. She is Harmanpreet Kaur, for heaven’s sake. The best we have seen. Someone who scored 171 not out against Australia to win India a World Cup semi-final. The leader who won Mumbai Indians the first WPL and set benchmarks for future stars to follow. With power comes responsibility, and with responsibility comes resilience. The umpire is a mortal, Harmanpreet’s status in the sport goes far beyond that. Mortals can make mistakes, legends can’t. And if done, it is disrespectful. As a follower of the sport, one can hope that she regrets the act and that it won’t be repeated in the future. While sport is always about values, power does corrupt. And absolute power is corrosive.