5 T20 knocks of Harmanpreet Kaur that prove she is an Indian cricketing hero

Harmanpreet Kaur has never failed to shepherd the middle-order and rescued India from a tricky position many times this year. She plays with real freedom and has shown the Indian cricket fans how to play T20 cricket these days. The vice-captain of the Women in Blue has been in rich form in the shorter format of the game with important contributions in all the games she has played this year. Be it India's highest ever run-chase against the three-time World T20 champions in Adelaide or defending 90 odd runs against England in Dharamshala, the 27-year-old has always delivered when needed. She has batted superbly to post challenging totals throughout his career and supported the bowlers by chipping in with four quality overs.Here are 5 contributions of Harmanpreet Kaur in 2016 that prove why she should be as much a marquee player as any of the touted 'greats' in the men's contingent:

#5 A vital 36-ball 41 against Australia

Harmanpreet starred as India won the first T20 against Australia

The Women in Blue began their tour of Australia by pulling off their highest ever run chase in T20 cricket and in the process bettering the 127 they had chased down against New Zealand last year.

After Australia put up a challenging 140 for 5 on the board with wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy slamming 41 off only 15 balls,it was a familiar face that controlled India's chase yet again.

India got off to a worst possible start when Rene Farrell removed Mithali Raj in the second over. But, Harmanpreet Kaur shone with the bat as her 36-ball 41 led them to victory with five wickets and 10 balls to spare.

Kaur struck a six and six fours in the space of 16 deliveries before her dismissal.

#4 Redeeming the Indian innings against Sri Lanka

She was superb on the field that day

The 25-year-old Punjab girl shone with the bat when India played Sri Lanka at Ranchi on 22 February. After Mithali Raj won the toss and decided to bat, the openers got out cheaply with 15 runs on the board.

Harmanpreet walked out in the third over and took responsibility of redeeming the Indian innings. She scored a patient 53- ball 36 and steadied the ship with Smriti Mandhana.

After India had posted 130, Anuja Patil struck three times with the ball and finished with career-best figures of 3 for 14. Indian eves were without star bowlers, Jhulan Goswami and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, but Sri Lanka could muster only 96 from 20 overs.

#3 Destroying Bangladesh

Harmanpreet: Player of the Match

India enjoyed the advantage of batting first even after losing the toss as Mithali Raj gave the Indian eves a perfect start to their World T20 campaign with a 35-ball 42.

After Harmanpreet came on to bat at the end of ninth over, she clobbered two huge sixes and three fours on the verge of hitting her maiden fifty in this World Cup.

Her 29-ball 40 came to a close in the 18th over, but she had already helped her side put up a competent total as India racked up 163 in their allotted 20 overs. Bangladesh were never in the run chase as India won by 72 runs.

Harmanpreet Kaur was deservedly the Player of the Match.

#2 Steadying the ship against Pakistan

Anam Amin of Pakistan helps Harmanpreet Kaur tie a shoe lace

India after defeating Bangladesh were desperate to continue their winning streak and faced Pakistan in their second game. Harmanpreet came to the crease at the end of fourth over with India reeling at 5-2. She had a massive job in hand as India scored only 7 runs in the 6 overs of powerplay.

With India's score depending on how Kaur would have batted - the pressure of performing proved too much as she departed after a slow 16. This has been her only not-so-great batting performance in the past few games. But, Kaur compensated by giving away 9 runs from her two overs and taking the wicket of Bismah Maroof.

In the end, Pakistan survived, by two runs on the D/L method after rain stopped with India on the verge of winning the game.

#1 A crucial 27 against England

Harmanpreet steadied the ship yet again

Going into a must-win encounter, Mithali Raj anchored the first half of the innings with a 33-ball 22. After she was run- out on the first ball of the 12th over, Harmanpreet took charge of the innings with her 25-ball 27.

Anuja Patil also chipped in with run-a-ball 13 as India put up 90 on the board at the 20 overs.

In response, England started off well on a difficult pitch with 44 runs from the powerplay. The match took a dangerously exciting turn after England were reduced to 79-7 after 14 overs. In the end, India were unlucky yet again as they fell short by 5-10 runs.

Kaur starred with the ball as she picked crucial wickets of Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor.