Interview | The damage layoff taught me easy methods to cope with setbacks, says Gujarat Giants’ Harleen Deol

That includes at ninth among the many top-10 run-getters within the Girls’s Premier League this yr, Harleen Deol is one in every of three Gujarat Giants gamers within the checklist, alongside the Australian duo of Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner. Their contributions have gone a great distance in direction of serving to GG enter the Eliminator for the primary time for the reason that competitors started in 2023.

The 26-year-old’s ongoing marketing campaign is in stark distinction to final season, the place she suffered a untimely exit after an try and intercept the ball on the cowl boundary resulted in a knee damage and a protracted layoff. Since getting back from damage, Harleen has received again into India’s ODI workforce, notably smashing her first worldwide ton in opposition to West Indies in Vadodara in December.

In an interview with The Hindu forward of GG’s Eliminator in opposition to Mumbai Indians on the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday, Harleen mirrored on her damage, her return to India’s 50-over set-up, her fielding capacity and extra. Excerpts:

Gujarat Giants has by no means overwhelmed MI in six conferences. The place may the sport on Thursday be received or misplaced?

Everytime you play huge matches, it’s nearly dealing with the strain the appropriate manner. Whoever does that’s going to win. Mumbai have performed two back-to-back matches and have simply had a day’s break. They’re coming off a loss (in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru). So, additionally they have a problem to beat.

You will have been batting effectively of late. Would you say that is one of the best you might have batted within the WPL?

I received’t say I’m batting at my greatest. I had a fairly good season within the first yr too. However once you miss out one season, you retain feeling you might have missed out on a possibility. However that’s finally the way you study issues and that’s the way you analyse. While you come again, you’ve got time to fill within the packing containers that had been missing. For me, it has been like that. If I can play effectively within the subsequent two matches, then I might say that is going to be my greatest (season).

What had been your targets coming into the season? Was your preparation any totally different earlier than this season?

I used to be doing rehab (laughs). No, I’m not somebody to offer myself targets. Within the preliminary stage, I used to be batting at No. 5. If I had informed myself I’ve to make these many runs, how may I’ve achieved it at that place? For me, it’s extra about how effectively you’ll be able to deal with the scenario whereas batting, whether or not it’s No. 6 or 3. Regardless of the workforce calls for, I’ve to accordingly simply slot into that function. I’m not somebody to set targets. Even when you set targets, God has their very own plans for you. I wish to go like that.

How do you usually put together for a T20 event?

I used to be simply getting back from the ODI collection. When you might have scored runs in worldwide cricket, you’re extra assured of doing it over right here as effectively. It is a barely totally different format. You need to simply be proactive concerning the calls for of this format. The preparation is a bit totally different. I focus extra on power-hitting. Ultimately it is usually about enjoying good cricketing pictures. That additionally provides you these runs. So I don’t make issues too sophisticated.

You will have batted at No. 5 and in addition at 3. What’s the place you’re most snug at?

While you rating runs, you are feeling snug in any respect positions. At No. 3, you get extra time to settle in after which do what the workforce wants. I wish to bat that manner. But when I’ve to bat on the finish, I’m additionally ready for that. Earlier than going right into a event, you simply have to arrange for the way your mindset ought to be for various positions. It’s about how you might have ready.

If you end up at No. 3, you mentioned there is a little more time on provide. How a lot does the mindset change?

Once we are batting decrease down, you simply should hit and bat at one gear. Should you get out, you get out. At No. 3, it’s important to have totally different gears. As a participant, it’s best to know which gear works for you. There are occasions when it’s important to float. It’s all in line with the scenario.

How has it been to bat with Mooney and Gardner? Do you decide their brains about batting?

Clearly, they’ve such good worldwide expertise. They’ve accomplished effectively in India. They’ve accomplished effectively in all of the international locations. If you end up batting with them, they’re the sort who will hold discussing the issues that may be accomplished. They don’t put strain on you. When I’m batting with Mooney, she received’t simply direct you to go after a sure bowler. So, she is going to hold giving concepts about how the ball is behaving, the areas that we will look to hit. So that they hold discussing this stuff. It is rather useful for us that we will additionally have a look at the sport like that. So that you begin issues a bit otherwise.

You made your comeback into India’s ODI facet in December and scored your first century in opposition to WI. How pleasing was that?

If you end up making a comeback, it’s important to show your self. The folks see you as an injured participant and hold how you might have recovered. You need to be extra ready than the way you was once. For me, it has been like that. If you end up making a comeback, everyone ought to know that you’re again.

There wasn’t strain, however once you undergo a section of damage, you simply grow to be extra grateful about issues. While you don’t have one thing, then you definitely realise how necessary that factor was for you. Regardless that I used to be solely enjoying home cricket initially after my comeback, I used to be simply so completely happy to be on the sector. I wasn’t as completely happy whereas scoring a fifty or hundred. I used to be happier to know that I had simply began enjoying once more. You continue to learn by way of that section.

You haven’t performed a T20I for India since July 2023. Do you are feeling you might have accomplished sufficient to earn a comeback?

All this stuff aren’t in my management. Should you get there, it’s good. Should you don’t, it’s important to hold working more durable to get these issues. It’s so simple as that. You simply should hold following the method. You don’t should hold planning about what is going to occur. You need to simply react to how you’re doing.

You suffered a knee damage three video games into WPL 2024. How robust was that section?

I by no means had such a protracted layoff beforehand. I additionally marvel now how I went by way of that section. I couldn’t stroll for weeks. It was robust, however I don’t really feel it was too arduous. You simply continue to learn issues by way of these phases. It has taught me rather a lot and made me a greater particular person. It helped me to cope with conditions. I received time to analyse. The rehab was a bit painful, but it surely taught me plenty of issues. No matter occurs, occurs for good. You get to know concerning the individuals who actually take care of you. There’s extra maturity now about easy methods to cope with setbacks.

There are six abroad batters within the prime 10 run-getters this season. From the Indian workforce’s perspective, ought to there be concern that extra younger home batters aren’t coming by way of?

Should you see the IPL, it took so a few years for this stuff to come back in. There are impactful gamers coming in. You will have simply sown the seed, it takes time. Issues are getting in route, whether or not it’s batting or bowling. Take a look at Bharti Fulmali. There’s Kashvee Gautam. There’s Kranti Goud. We simply should be a bit extra affected person and you will notice issues turning round.

You’re in all probability the most effective fielders going round. What went into you changing into good at it?

I used to be somebody who would simply hold enjoying with the ball in my childhood. The hand-eye coordination turns into a factor. Primarily it’s simply apply. Should you see the great fielders, they’re so match. That’s the reason they grow to be good fielders. For me, health is a factor that has helped me grow to be fielder. After my damage, it was harder to be the place I used to be. When you might have set the usual in worldwide cricket, folks don’t take into consideration the truth that there can be a bit hesitation about getting back from an damage. As I play extra matches, it’s going to fade away and I’ll begin constructing extra confidence. I’m nonetheless getting there.

The general fielding requirements haven’t been that nice in WPL. How can that enhance going ahead?

It’s simply part of the sport. No one needs to drop a catch. Should you see kids now, they’re making an attempt to verify they’re good fielders. I’m seeing a change. They know that the demand of the Indian workforce and the WPL is to be good within the fielding division.

Any fielder that you just actually admire?

As of late, I like Glenn Phillips’ catches. He’s wonderful. Even Phoebe Litchfield. The way in which she strikes round on the sector is so good to see.