The Mullanpur Stadium witnessed a special moment on Thursday evening as two of India's most celebrated cricketers-Harmanpreet Kaur and Yuvraj Singh-received a rare honour ahead of the second T20I between India and South Africa.
In a landmark gesture, stands at the newly built Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium were dedicated to the star duo, celebrating their immense contributions to Indian cricket.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated the stands in the presence of players, dignitaries, and an enthusiastic crowd that had gathered well before the toss. The ceremony carried an added emotional touch, with members of India's Women's World Cup-winning squad-Harleen Deol and Amanjot Kaur-joining their captain Harmanpreet
for the occasion.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas was also in attendance as the state government handed over cash awards to the players: ₹11 lakh each for Harmanpreet, Harleen, and Amanjot, while fielding coach Munish Bali received ₹5 lakh for his contributions to India's triumphant campaign.
The honour for Harmanpreet marks a significant moment in Indian women's cricket. Fresh off guiding India to their first-ever ICC Women's ODI World Cup title last month, the skipper's leadership has been hailed as transformative. Her resilience, especially after India opened the tournament with three consecutive losses, became a defining storyline of the championship.
This is what greatness looks like aka HARMANPREET KAUR STAND 😍
- shreya (@shreyab27) December 11, 2025
📸 - JioHotstar | @ImHarmanpreet pic.twitter.com/6cgfUwWxri
Yuvraj Singh, meanwhile, returned to a ground hosting its first men's international match, and his presence brought a wave of nostalgia. A hero of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories, Yuvraj reunited with head coach Gautam Gambhir-his teammate in some of India's most iconic wins. Their warm interaction drew cheers from fans who still remember their partnership in shaping India's golden era of limited-overs cricket.
Before the match, Yuvraj joined the Indian team huddle to offer a brief pep talk, a moment that highlighted his continued influence on the next generation of players. With the stadium honouring two icons on the same evening, Mullanpur's debut as an international venue became even more memorable, setting the tone for a celebratory night of cricket.
