Asmiling Harmanpreet Kaur sat down for the press conference with head coach Charlotte Edwards and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami, a week before WPL kicked off in Bengaluru.

After the usual instructions from the Mumbai Indians (MI) media in-charge, the floor was opened to questions. As expected, the first question was about the season opener, a cracker as it turned out to be. Kaur was asked whether the MI team management was keen on an experimental approach to its batting line-up this year. The 34-year-old promptly and decisively inclined her head in dissent as Goswami looked on.

English ‘baz’bowled’

“Last year, we kept things simple and we’ll look to do the same this year as well,” she said. “All the players have clarity about their roles. We don’t put pressure on ourselves that we have to win the title at any cost.

I know, everyone’s eyes will be on us since we did well last year. When you set a benchmark, there are bound to be expectations. But all we can do as playersis give our best. We will try to enjoy the game, there will be different venues and other teams could get more support than us. For us, it’s about staying in the present.”

Having lifted the inaugural WPL title last year, Kaur’s Mumbai find themselves ensnared in the inescapable web of expectations. The burden of expectations is an intangible opponent, shadowing every stroke, every delivery, and every moment on the 22 yards. But their legacy is such.

The journey of this franchise transcends the conventional boundaries of triumph, evolving into a cricketing dynasty that has left an indelible mark on the global T20 landscape. At the helm of their dominance lies a confluence of visionary leadership, meticulous planning, and an astute understanding of the game`s dynamics.