With Women’s World Cup winning Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar along with two-time World Cup winner (T20 and ODI World Cup) Yuvraj Singh seeing the stands named after the at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA New International Stadium at Mullanpur prior to the second T20I between India and South Africa on Thursday evening, the occasion also meant that it was only the third time that a stand in an Indian stadium has been named after an international women cricketer. Kaur, who led India to a historic Women’s World Cup title last month, shared how the honour was an emotional moment for her and will also act as motivation to aspiring cricketers.
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“After winning the World Cup, a lot of things changed in life. But this is a special moment for me that the land where I started playing, there will be a stand in my name on that ground. I really want to thank Punjab Cricket Association for that. You know all the hard work and struggles has paid for me. I think it is very emotional moment for me but whoever is going to watch or listening, it is going to be very motivational for them,” Kaur said in video posted by BCCI.
Last year, the Cricket Association of Bengal had named a stand at Eden Gardens at Kolkata in the honour of former Indian captain Jhulan Goswami. Earlier this year, Andhra Cricket Association had named a stand at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam in the honour of Raj apart form naming a gate after former Indian wicket-keeper Raavi Kalpana. Singh, who had played a stellar role in India’s triumphs in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup, shared how he was proud of Harmanpreet Kaur and her team for winning the maiden Women’s World Cup trophy for India. “Very proud of her (Harmanpreet Kaur). Very proud of the whole Indian team winning the World Cup, it was their dream. Very proud of them to win the final and very happy for them. Ecstatic for them,” Siamgh said in the video posted by BCCI.
The Mullanpur stadium earlier had a stand named after 2011 World Cup winner and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh. Yuvraj Singh, who also has been mentor to players like Indian captain Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, also spoke about the honour. “That’s a huge honour. I think it’s bene lot of years playing for Indian. And Punjab. So it’s a special ground for me as a coach and mentor. Thanks to the BCCI and PCA for giving me their support and giving me that huge honour,” said Yuvraj in the video posted by BCCI.