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A story of social battle: When Harmanpreet Kaur’s hair choice offended her father

Poulomi Chakraborty

Harmanpreet Kaur and her father (Source: @mipaltan/x.com)Harmanpreet Kaur and her father (Source: @mipaltan/x.com)

Success doesn’t come without struggle, whether it's in cricket or life. The long-standing debate between men’s and women’s cricket aside, one truth unites all players: the challenges they face, whether battling societal expectations or overcoming personal hurdles within their own families.

The struggle for the women stars becomes even more real as society puts its own rules over them. Yet, sometimes, the toughest battles begin at home. Harmanpreet Kaur, one of the brightest stars in women’s cricket, faced such a personal hurdle when her father stopped speaking to her for months simply because she cut her hair short.

Punjab finds another superstar in Harmanpreet

Punjab has always been rich in culture, and the state has given some of the finest cricket talent. Among all well-grown male stars, Harmanpreet Kaur is the shiniest star. In a male-dominated sport, this girl from Punjab carved her own path, rising to become one of the biggest icons of Indian women’s cricket. As the path was not an easy one, Harmanpreet turned the dream into reality with grit.

The young Harmanpreet always lived with a dream of cricket in her heart, but she had a long battle to chase her dreams. Her father, Satwinder Kaur, became her guiding force, channeling his own unfulfilled cricketing ambitions through her. With his unwavering faith, Harmanpreet never let him down, and over time, she transformed herself into a global cricketing superstar.

The moment her father opposes her move

Ask anyone to paint a picture of the “perfect Indian woman,” and most will imagine a saree, a bindi, and long flowing hair. But aren’t these just societal constructs? Deviating from this mold often invites criticism, and Team India captain Harmanpreet Kaur experienced this firsthand.

Her father has been her greatest motivator, first coach, and pillar of strength, but one move from her made her father angry. As the Punjab-born cricketer started cricket practice at a young age, like most of the Indian women, she also had a long, hard day. Managing her long hair alongside intense training became a daily challenge, prompting the Indian captain to take a bold step.

To tackle the daily struggle, Harmanpreet Kaur boldly cut her hair short, never imagining the storm it would spark at home. Once her father saw her new look, he was beyond furious, as he stopped talking to the Indian star for three months. Later on, she convinced her father by showing other women stars with short hair.

Harmanpreet’s grit turns family pride into glory

The incident portrayed two different sides of society as a girl made  a big sacrifice just to chase her dreams. On the flip side, her father, who has been her biggest motivator, opposed her move.

With no offense meant, he reflected the societal rules imposed on girls. Undeterred, Harmanpreet Kaur shattered those conventions, defying norms to carve out an unmatched legacy in the world of cricket.

Making a debut at a very young age, Harmanpreet Kaur shattered women’s cricket with her iconic unbeaten 171-run knock in the 2017 Women’s World Cup semifinal. That monumental innings brought long-awaited glory to Indian women’s cricket on home soil. Following her heroics, her father proudly acknowledged the triumph, celebrating how his daughter lifted the nation’s spirit high.

After that, she never looked back, and she has become the strongest pillar of Team India’s batting lineup. Honing her skills and taking over the reins from Mithali Raj, she has led the Indian women’s side with determination and flair. With the 2025 Women’s World Cup on the horizon, the skipper now sets her sights on fulfilling a dream that has eluded India for 47 years.