Indian women’s cricket has a new icon in Harmanpreet Kaur, whose fearless batting and leadership carried India to its first ICC Women’s World Cup title in 2025. Her exploits have made her one of the most recognisable athletes in the country and a role model for young cricketers.
With such fame, public curiosity about her life off the field has also grown. Those fans, who glorify her six hitting power, want to know more about people and cultural values which made her come to the world as a small town in Punjab and become the world star.
Understanding her family offers insight into why she plays with such confidence and aggression. Supporters hope to discover who encouraged her when women’s cricket in India received little support, and how her parents and siblings helped her break barriers.
This article answers those questions. It follows her life upbringing in Moga, describes her father Harmandar Singh Bhullar and her siblings Gurjinder and Hemjeet, her cultural heritage and values in the family, the Hindu problems they had to face, her private life which was mostly guarded, and some interesting facts about the Bhullar family.
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Early life and cricket journey
Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar was born on 8 March 1989 in the small town of Moga, Punjab. The eldest of three children, she grew up playing cricket and football with boys in the grounds near Guru Nanak College in her hometown.
Her early exposure to a competitive setting that played with boys taught her to become strong and confident. Her father was a former volleyball and basketball player, called as Harmandar Singh Bhullar, a clerk in the Moga district court who used to take her to the grounds and he would encourage her to play any sport that she would like to play.
He never distinguished between sons and daughters and taught her that girls could achieve as much as boys.
Joining Gian Jyoti School Academy
Harmanpreet’s break came when local cricket coach Kamaldeesh Singh Sodhi saw her playing with the boys and offered her free coaching at his Gian Jyoti School Academy in Tarapur, about 17 km from Moga. The Bhullar family did not have much money – Harmandar earned a modest clerk’s salary – but he and his wife arranged for their daughter to travel to the academy, sometimes with the help of local friends.
At the academy Harmanpreet trained alongside boys and was coached by Sodhi and his son Yadwinder Singh Sodhi, who remember her dominating the boys and developing her six‑hitting ability.
Path to the national team
Harmanpreet ascended rapidly in Punjab playing in the junior teams. She then debuted in One-Day International (ODI) in 2009 in a match between India and Pakistan, after scoring highly in domestic tournaments.
A long six she hit at the Sydney Cricket Ground that year drew attention to her raw power. Likewise, her reputation grew further when she hammered an unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup* semifinal, a performance that put her hometown of Moga on the national map.
In 2022, she became the full‑time captain of India’s limited‑overs teams, and in 2025, she led India to the Women’s World Cup title, a historic achievement for the nation.
Harmanpreet’s Love For Her Parents
Harmandar Singh Bhullar – often called Harmandar – played volleyball and basketball at state level. Furthermore, he later worked as a clerk at the Moga district court, but his passion for sports drove him to support his children’s athletic pursuits.
When Harmanpreet was born, he bought a yellow toddler‑sized boy’s suit with the words “Good Batting” printed on it. He made his newborn daughter wear it to send a message that daughters are equal to sons.
The suit became a family talisman; in 2025 his wife Satwinder Kaur carried it to the gurdwara (Sikh temple) to pray for their daughter after India won the World Cup.
Satwinder Kaur managed the household and instilled discipline and faith.
She recalled that young Harmanpreet idolised Virender Sehwag and collected his posters and photographs of cricket icons like Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar. Satwinder also noted that Harmanpreet used to play with a plastic bat or even a washing stick as a child, often organising other children into teams and acting like an inspector.
Does Harmanpreet Have Siblings?
Harmanpreet is the eldest of three siblings. Her younger sister Hemjeet Kaur lives in Calgary, Canada and her younger brother Gurjinder Singh, nicknamed Garry, lives in Adelaide, Australia.
The siblings remain close‑knit despite living on different continents; after the World Cup victory the family connected via a group call between Moga, Canada and Australia. In addition, Gurjinder has spoken of how, as children, Harmanpreet’s powerful shots would break neighbours’ windows when she played cricket with the boys.
Hemjeet, a university graduate, moved abroad for further studies and later settled in Canada. Likewise, together the siblings support each other’s careers and celebrate successes.
Home environment and family values
The Bhullar household practised Sikh traditions, visiting the gurdwara regularly and instilling values of equality and community service. Harmandar emphasised gender equality, famously telling neighbours, “Don’t kill your daughters in the womb; let them fly”.
He did not differentiate his daughters as compared to sons and urged them to play cricket and football with boys. Both parents insisted that there is no contradiction between education and sport, and therefore, Harmanpreet used to combine her studies at school and train at the academy.
The family’s belief in hard work, humility and resilience forms the core of Harmanpreet’s character.
How Kaur’s family supported her cricket career
Travelling from Moga to Tarapur for coaching required money and time. Harmandar sometimes borrowed vehicles or rode his bicycle to take his daughter to the Gian Jyoti School Academy.
With limited income, the family prioritised expenses like bats, pads and shoes. Local residents also pitched in; many recall telling Harmandar that his daughter would “make it really big”.
Satwinder managed the household budget to ensure their children’s education and sports were not compromised. In addition, when Harmanpreet travelled for state and national camps, her parents saved money for train tickets and cricket gear.
Emotional and moral support
The Bhullars gave unconditional emotional support besides logistics. Harmandar even went to watch most of her games and frequently practiced with her, football and cricket on the fields.
Satwinder was cheering on the sidelines and consoling her daughter whenever they failed. The brothers were also proud followers and Gurjinder and Hemjeet watched television outside the country and rejoiced at each achievement.
After India’s 2025 World Cup win, the Bhullars carried the cherished “Good Batting” suit to the gurdwara to thank God for their daughter’s success.
Shaping her discipline and aggressive style
Growing up playing with boys taught Harmanpreet not to fear pace or physicality, encouraging her fearless batting. As well as, her father’s insistence on gender equality instilled confidence, while the rural cricket environment – hitting balls into paddy fields where they would sink – helped her develop power.
Coach Sodhi’s drills emphasised six‑hitting; his son Yadwinder recalls that she struck the ball so hard that boys rarely tried to stop it. These experiences forged her aggressive playing style and mental toughness.
Harmanpreet’s family background & cultural roots
Moga is a small Punjab town whereby, in the past, girls were not encouraged to play sport because of the conservative attitude. But the Bhullar family took the Punjabi ethos of strength and solidarity.
They had photos of Harmanpreet with cricketing legends in their house which depicts a proud yet a well-grounded upbringing. Most at home in Punjabi, Harmanpreet has stated that she prefers speaking Punjabi over English, following the 2025 world cup she told interviewer Anjum Chopra that she speaks Punjabi better than English.
She celebrated with bhangra, reflecting her cultural roots. Punjab’s love of music, dance and sport is woven into her identity and leadership style.
Family beliefs and gender equality
The Bhullars’ Sikh faith teaches equality of genders and service. Harmandar repeatedly urged parents to allow their daughters to pursue sports and education.
This was repeated by Coach Sodhi, who remarked that it was a great fault to discriminate between daughters and sons, and repeated the Sikh couplet So kyun manda akhiye, jit jamme rajan (Why call bad the woman who bears kings). These assumptions were what contributed to the confidence of Harmanpreet and her position as a pioneer to girls in sport.
She has often thanked Waheguru (God) for her success and continues to visit the gurdwara with her family.
Challenges faced by Harmanpreet and her family
Growing up in Moga meant contending with limited facilities, conservative attitudes and even the region’s infamous drug problems. As well as, few families allowed daughters to play outside, and there were no dedicated girls’ teams, so Harmanpreet had to train with boys.
Financially, cricket gear and travel were expensive on a clerk’s salary, and there was little support for women cricketers at the time. Despite these obstacles, the Bhullars persisted, determined that gender or money would not stop their daughter’s dreams.
Moreover, Harmanpreet later claimed that there was another group of older players who supported her when she joined the national team, such as, Jhulan Goswami and Anjum Chopra, who gave her mentorship, and not just her family.
Balancing education, family expectations and sport
Harmanpreet attended school while training at the academy, juggling homework with long practice sessions. Her parents both valued education, and at the same time they realised that she possessed a great talent, and they also gave her the chance to place her first priority in cricket when the need arose.
There were societal expectations for her to pursue a more conventional career or marry early; however, the family’s progressive attitude protected her from pressure. As well as, she also managed extended periods away from home, training and touring, which could be challenging emotionally for a tight‑knit family.
Overcoming barriers with determination
The Bhullars’ determination and community support helped them overcome these challenges. Local residents predicted her success and later celebrated her triumphs.
The global performances by Harmanpreet eventually gave her sponsors and professional contracts, which helped her to take the financial stress off. Similarly, her winning led to the motivation in many families in Punjab to embrace girls to take sport as an example of how personal success can change the cultural beliefs.
Personal life & family privacy
Harmanpreet Kaur is unmarried and deliberately keeps her personal life private. BollywoodShaadis notes that the 33‑year‑old cricketer “is not married” and that there is no information about her dating profile.
Another report explains that internet searches about “Harmanpreet Kaur’s husband” have no basis because she appears not to be married and keeps her private life under wraps. In October 2025 she got a geometric Celtic knot tattoo representing her eternal bond with her father, reinforcing that family remains her priority.
While media speculation persists, she politely avoids discussing relationships and focuses on cricket.
Interesting facts about Harmanpreet’s family
“Good Batting” suit: At her birth, Harmandar Bhullar bought a yellow toddler’s suit labelled “Good Batting” to symbolise gender equality; the family still preserves it and brings it to the gurdwara for prayers.
Car from her first salary
An Alto hatchback, the first car Harmanpreet bought with her cricket earnings, is still parked outside the family home in Moga.
Poster collection
As a child, she collected posters of Virender Sehwag, Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar and tried to imitate Sehwag’s attacking style.
Breaking windows
Her brother Gurjinder recalls that she often broke neighbours’ windows while playing cricket with boys.
Leadership qualities
Satwinder remembers her daughter organising neighbourhood children into lines and acting like an inspector during games, foreshadowing her leadership as India’s captain.
Tattoo dedicated to father
The Celtic knot tattoo on her shoulder means that she will always be connected with her father and their canoe ride.
Family’s role in Harmanpreet Kaur’s success
Without the sacrifices that the family made and the firm faith that they had, Harmanpreet Kaur could have never made it out of the dusty grounds of Moga to ascend to the highest glory of the World Cup. Her father was obsessed with gender equality and ready to drive her to far academies even with scarce resources which formed the basis of her skills in cricketing.
Her mother’s encouragement, discipline and faith nurtured her character. Her siblings, though living abroad, remained emotionally supportive.
They all made the atmosphere in which a small town girl could dream big and pursue those dreams. In addition to individual success, the Bhullar family brings forth other plots in Indian sports culture: how families can change their lives, the oppression of female athletes and the importance of community in developing talent.
The story of Harmanpreet is still inspiring young athletes in India and showing that resilience, equality and family support can create the historic breakthrough and result in the victory in the system.
