“We have had this heartbreak before!” India legends react to Kaur’s freak run-out

Australia survive nailbiter to beat India and reach T20 World Cup final

Kaur had just reached a brilliant half-century to put her team in with a great chance of chasing down their 173-run target to beat defending champions Australia and reach the final.

But disaster struck when her bat became lodged in the wicket as she attempted to slide it home, leaving her short of her ground as Alyssa Healy whipped off the bails.

“Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues looked like taking the game away, but the Aussies fought back brilliantly & in the end India have fallen short,” said VVS Laxman on Twitter, adding:

“Harmanpreet’s run-out was the turning point.”

And former Indian opener Virender Sehwag was not the only one to spot the parallels between a famous dismissal of another Indian captain in a huge match.

“Match winner at the crease and run out in a semi-final… we have had this heartbreak before,” he said.

Speaking after the game, a visibly upset Kaur spoke of her huge disappointment of failing to win a game that had seemed in India’s grasp.

"Can't feel unluckier than this. We got the momentum back… to lose from there, we weren't expecting this.

“The way I got run out, can't be unluckier than that. Putting the effort was important and we were happy to go to the last ball. We wanted to fight until the last ball.

"Today we wanted to chase too, so that was fine when they chose to bat. Even after losing first two wickets, we knew we had a good batting line-up. I should give credit to Jemimah (Rodrigues), she gave us the momentum.”

And Kaur's team received praise from the Secretary of the BCCI for their "true warrior" display.

India's misfortune means that it will be Australia who play in Sunday's final, with either England or South Africa to join them from Friday's fascinating second semi-final at Newlands.