India’s very own Harmanpreet Kaur, who took India single-handedly with a knock of 171* to the final of ICC Women’s World Cup disclosed that she played the whole tournament with a finger injury that she sustained during India’s second match in the group stages. She caught up with an injury on the ring finger of her left hand. She admitted that she played with a clamp on her finger in the semifinal and final.

In an interview with TOI, Harmanpreet Kaur revealed that she was advised by the physio to take rest after being hit while batting in the match against West Indies. “I played nearly the entire tournament with a finger injury, which I suffered during our second league match against the Windies. I sustained the injury while fielding. The physio advised me rest, but I went back and managed to take two wickets. Thankfully, I didn’t have to bat in that game,” she said.

“I wore the batting gloves on it. It was painful, but I was determined to go beyond the pain barrier and perform for my country,” Harmanpreet Kaur said.

”At one point, it looked I might have to return home from the World Cup. I would like to give credit to our physio Tracy Fernandes for helping me play the full tournament,” she added while explaining how difficult it was for her to grip the bat.

Harmandar Bhullar, father of the hard-hitting middle-order batter while talking with the reporter said, “The doctors put a clamp on the ring finger of her left hand in order to keep it straight as the finger had become curved.”

For a right-handed batter, power comes through one’s right hand, while the left hand gives the ball direction. The finger injury meant it was difficult for her to grip the bat with strength. The tear in her left shoulder after the semi-final meant she was literally batting with one hand,” the proud father concluded explaining the injury in detail.