Harmanpreet Kaur is on the verge of cricket history. The India captain is set to become the first cricketer — men's or women's — to appear in 200 T20 Internationals when she leads her side against South Africa in a Group A fixture at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday, 22 June, as part of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Ahead of the landmark occasion, India bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi described her as 'a role model for almost all cricketers globally.'

The milestone carries an added layer of poetry: Old Trafford is the same ground where Harmanpreet made her T20I debut 17 years ago. India also enter the contest unbeaten in the tournament, chasing a third consecutive victory that would push them firmly towards a semifinal berth.

Salvi's Tribute to Harmanpreet

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the match, Salvi was emphatic about the captain's standing in the global game. 'She's a role model for almost all cricketers globally. I think Harman is a top-level athlete. The way she has conducted herself over the years, she's been a role model throughout,' he said.

Salvi also pointed to Harmanpreet's work ethic and her role as a mentor within the squad. 'She's been a performer in any format. Work ethics-wise, she keeps on working on the basics. She shares a lot of experience with the youngsters. So that also is a dimension where she comes in,' he added.

Lessons from South Africa Series Defeat

India arrive at this World Cup carrying the memory of a 4-1 bilateral T20I series defeat in South Africa earlier this year — a setback Salvi says proved instructive. 'Those five games that we played in South Africa taught us a lot. Especially when you lose the series, you tend to reflect a lot into it and find out the grey areas where we needed to work on,' he said.

Salvi noted that the bowling unit in particular had undergone honest introspection. 'I think as a bowling unit, as an entire group, they discussed a lot of stuff amongst themselves, with us, and they have come up with the conclusions that where we went wrong, and we have addressed that into the camps and matches,' he explained. The turnaround in form at the World Cup suggests those conversations have had an effect.

Opposition Pays Tribute Too

The admiration for Harmanpreet crosses team lines. South Africa all-rounder Chloe Tryon, who has shared a dressing room with the India captain at Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League (WPL), offered her own tribute ahead of Sunday's clash.

'It's been remarkable to watch her journey, when I was a small girl as well, just looking up to big players, I've had the opportunity to play alongside her, watch her do her thing. She's been a role model for so many people around the world,' Tryon said. She also reflected on Harmanpreet's enduring presence in the sport: 'To see her still playing cricket is amazing, and leading from the front, which is really good to see. I don't know how many more she can push through, but look, it's great to see how the women's game has grown and how she's taken the game forward.'

What Is at Stake on Sunday

Beyond the personal milestone, the match carries significant tournament weight. A win over South Africa would keep India unbeaten in Group A and put them in a strong position to qualify for the knockouts. For South Africa, the fixture is equally critical as they look to stay in contention. The dual narrative — historic individual landmark meets high-stakes group encounter — makes this one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament so far. All eyes will be on whether Harmanpreet can mark her 200th T20I with a performance worthy of the occasion.