Mandhana's gesture effectively put the relentless rift rumours to rest.
The transition of all-format captaincy from Harmanpreet Kaur to Smriti Mandhana earlier this month had sparked rumours of rift surrounding the two icons of Indian women’s cricket.
However, a heartwarming moment during the second ODI against Zimbabwe on Sunday (October 25) in Vadodara effectively put the relentless speculation to rest.
After Mandhana and Shafali Verma fell early, Harmanpreet stepped up to steady a collapsing top order. She went on to slam a century, scoring 126 runs off 121 balls with 15 boundaries.
When Harmanpreet reached the three-figure mark, Mandhana was among the first in the dressing room to lead a passionate standing ovation.
This moment highlighted that while leadership roles have evolved, the veteran core remains unified as they build toward upcoming assignments like the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy.
Here’s the video:
With this eighth ODI century, Harmanpreet Kaur officially surpassed Mithali Raj to become India's second-highest century-maker in women's ODIs, trailing only Mandhana who leads with 14.
Alongside an explosive, unbeaten 106 off 86 balls from Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet's century anchored a massive 153-run partnership, powering India to a massive total of 328/6 in 50 overs.