She led the way to the top, that’s her legacy

Harmanpreet Kaur’s contribution as captain of the women’s cricket team cannot be measured only by the ODI World Cup trophy she lifted last year. It can be seen in the way the team began to carry itself on the biggest stages. When Harmanpreet took over, India had already reached two ODI World Cup finals. But there was still a sense that the team had to prove it belonged among the best. During her captaincy, the results began to follow more consistently. India reached the 2018 T20 World Cup semifinal, the 2020 T20 World Cup final and the 2023 T20 World Cup semifinal before going all the way in the 2025 ODI World Cup.

The journey was not smooth. Harmanpreet’s batting became less consistent, and her decisions were often questioned. But she remained at the centre of the team through the difficult periods. Her leadership was driven by her passion for the game and a strong belief in the players around her. The World Cup win turned that belief into reality. Now, as Smriti Mandhana takes over, she inherits a team that has tasted success and knows what is expected at the highest level. Mandhana cannot and should not try to recreate Harmanpreet’s leadership style. She will have to lead in her own way. But she will be expected to protect the confidence that has been built and take it further.

Overall Analysis

The editorial is a tribute to Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and argues that her legacy should not be judged merely by the ODI World Cup trophy she won, but by the change in the team’s confidence, performance and mindset during her captaincy.

The opening sentence immediately establishes the central argument through the contrast between “cannot be measured only by” and “can be seen in”. This is an effective argumentative technique: the writer moves the reader from a narrow definition of success (winning a trophy) to a broader one (building a team capable of consistently competing at the highest level). The phrase “carry itself on the biggest stages” is particularly significant. It is not about physical movement; rather, it metaphorically refers to confidence, composure and self-belief while competing against the best teams.

The first paragraph then uses a chronological presentation of achievements. The sequence of World Cup results — semifinal, final, semifinal and eventually victory — demonstrates gradual progress. Instead of simply claiming that Harmanpreet improved the team, the author supports the argument through these results. The expression “before going all the way” is an idiomatic and slightly conversational way of saying that the team eventually won the tournament.

The second paragraph introduces balance by acknowledging that Harmanpreet’s journey “was not smooth.” This prevents the editorial from becoming merely celebratory. The author openly mentions her inconsistent batting and the criticism of her decisions. However, the contrastive sentence “But she remained at the centre of the team through the difficult periods” shifts the focus from shortcomings to resilience. Her greatest contribution, therefore, is presented as persistence and belief, rather than individual perfection.

The final part makes an important distinction between leadership style and leadership legacy. Smriti Mandhana is not expected to imitate Harmanpreet. The repeated expressions “cannot and should not” and “in her own way” emphasise that effective leadership does not require copying one’s predecessor. At the same time, Mandhana has the responsibility to “protect the confidence that has been built and take it further.” This creates a powerful metaphor of confidence as something that can be preserved, strengthened and carried forward.

From a language perspective, the editorial is simple, elegant and emotionally restrained. It relies more on metaphors, contrasts and carefully chosen phrases than on complicated vocabulary. This makes it a useful example of effective editorial writing: the language remains accessible while conveying a deeper argument about legacy, leadership and institutional confidence.

Important Vocabulary (5)

1. Legacy – something valuable or influential left behind by a person.
2. Carry oneself – to conduct or present oneself, especially in a particular manner.
3. Consistently – regularly and reliably over a period of time.
4. Inherit – to receive something from a predecessor; here, to take over an established team and its achievements.
5. Recreate – to reproduce or imitate something that already exists.

Conclusion & Tone

The editorial concludes that Harmanpreet Kaur’s real legacy lies in transforming India’s women’s cricket team from a side that hoped to compete with the best into one that believed it belonged at the top. Her successor, Smriti Mandhana, does not need to imitate her; instead, she must build upon the confidence and winning culture that Harmanpreet helped establish.