Vadodara: Soaking in the glory of her match-winning, series-clinching maiden ODI century in the second Women’s ODI against West Indies here on Tuesday, Harleen Deol broke into an infectious smile when she was congratulated by this reporter in the post-match presser on becoming the first-ever centurion in international cricket at the majestic, brand new Kotambi Stadium.
“Wow, I didn’t know that! Baroda has been special to me. Earlier also, when I came here for (to play) zonal matches, I scored a lot of runs over here, and I got selected for the India A tour,” Deol said, after her blistering 103-ball 115 laid the foundation for India’s commanding 115-run win over the West Indies and secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Talking about her maiden WODI ton, Deol said, “The wicket was very good for batting. I was just backing my shots, doing things which come easily to me. I didn’t think about anything else. I didn’t think about scoring a hundred or (generally) or how many score I’ll score. I was just looking to bat out there. When you keep batting, and calculate (your innings), you reach your hundred!.”
The century has come after a long wait for Deol, who has been around in international cricket for more than five and a half years now. In 14 WODIs and 31 innings in international cricket, all the 26-year-old had to show before Tuesday was three fifties, with a highest score of 77.
To make it worst, she suffered from a knee injury during the Women’s Premier League on March 1, which forced her to miss the Women’s Asia Cup and the Women’s T20 World Cup. After an eight- month long layoff from the sport she loves to play, the Chandigarh batter only made her comeback in the ODI series against Australia, which wasn’t pleasant, as she was out for scores of 19, 12 & 39 as India were thrashed 3-0 Down Under.
While she didn’t get a chance to play in the WT20I against West Indies, Deol had looked fluent in the first WODI here, where she made 44 off 50 balls. She has the ability to unleash the big hit occasionally, the No 3 batter relies more on angles and gaps in the field to motor the score along.
“I didn’t know that I did it after (so many) innings and all, but I’m just coming back from injury and it feels great to just be at the ground. So, obviously, that’s a great feeling. After scoring a century, as a player, you just know that a century adds a feather to your cap. You just always feel great. I’m a person who always feel great to just be there. and to score a century, you can imagine I’ll be feeling (right) now,” Deol said, when informed about the number of outings it took for her to finally come of age.
Turning philosophical, she said, “It’s not always like that. It’s not always (about) how you plan things. It’s just God’s plan. You just have to keep believing it, keep having trust in him. That’s the only thing. You can’t think..I can also say that I wish I score a century in each of the next 10 matches. It can happen too,” she giggled.
It has helped Deol that the captain of the Indian women’s team, Harmanpreet Kaur, and head coach Amol Muzumdar have backed to the hilt. “Definitely (they’ve supported me). Only yesterday, Amol sir told me after the (team) meeting: ‘Just imagine that you are scoring a fifty a hundred (tomorrow). So, obviously, I didn’t know that I had that capability. I felt really good that (Amol) Sir and Harry Di showed that confidence in me. (When) You are coming from an injury, you need that support. So, I’m very happy,” Deol acknowledged.
With the Women’s ODI World Cup coming up in India later next year, there will be tough competition for places in Team India. In that context, Deol seems to have made a solid case for having sealed the pivotal No 3 spot in that tournament with her brilliant hundred.
Again, terming herself as “someone who leaves everything to God,” Deol said that if it was written in her destiny, she will play in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India.
“I feel that it’s a healthy competition. I don’t see anyone as my competitor. I just see myself as a competitor, because when you come out of an injury, when you are out of cricket for a long time, your mindset completely shifts towards what your preparation is. How you see things. So, I see things very differently. I feel that you get what God gives you at a certain time. When you get that, it’s only meant for you, and not anyone else will get it. God will only give it to you. So, I see it that way. Obviously, the (ODI) World Cup is around. You want to do well. I’m someone who leaves everything to God,” she explained.
The fluent century could be a turning point in her career. “I don’t think so. I don’t look at things in this way. I don’t know whether it will be a turning point or not, but it will definitely boost me up. When you have scored a ton, you’re more confident for the next (few) matches. I look at things this way,” she said.
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