Women's Cricket
'A dream come true', says Harleen Deol after maiden ODI ton
After being sidelined with a knee injury, Deol is back in the team and amongst the runs.
Harleen Deol was adjudged the player of the match for her brilliant century against West Indies in the second ODI. (Photo Credit: BCCI)
India’s Harleen Deol produced a brilliant 115 off 103 balls to guide India to a dominant 115-run victory over the West Indies in the second ODI on Tuesday.
With the victory, the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
A maiden ODI ton
Deol’s maiden ODI century was the highlight of India’s imposing total of 358, the joint highest score by the Indian women's team in WODI cricket.
In the post-match presentation, Deol reflected on the significance of her century, revealing that the moment was the culmination of months of hard work and dreams, particularly during her recovery from knee surgery earlier this year.
“This is a very proud moment for me, one that I’ve waited for a long time. I’m just enjoying it right now,” Deol said to the broadcasters and the media after the game.
“It means a lot to me. During rehab, that was what I kept thinking about every day, the goal of coming back and making my team win. Today was that dream come true, and I just went with the flow.”
Divine intervention
Deol’s innings, which included 16 boundaries, anchored India’s total and provided the platform for the win.
She spoke about her approach at the crease, explaining how she built her innings slowly and capitalized on the opportunities later in her knock.
“When I came in, I knew I had time to build my innings. I just focused on playing some good cricket and thought that the more I batted, the more shots I would be able to play,” Deol said.
“When you’re batting well, it’s always easier, no matter where you’re batting. I just tried to continue the good flow I had from the last match.”
Believing firmly in divine intervention, Deol also emphasized her strong faith in God’s plan.
“I feel that the time God has planned for you. I trust in his plan and leave everything to him. As the World Cup approaches, it’s up to me to perform and do well,” she said.
Deol also spoke about her mindset after recovering from injury, stressing the importance of focusing on personal growth rather than competition with others.
“Coming back from an injury shifts your mindset. I don’t see anyone as a competitor. I see myself as my biggest competitor.”
India will play the final ODI in the ongoing three-match series against West Indies on 27th December.
