Harleen Deol is raring to go for the newest opportunity in her career: Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).
The India international became the fifth Indian to join the ongoing edition after a last-minute move saw her sign for defending champion Barbados Tridents.
She’ll share the dressing room with pace-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar and big-hitter Kiran Navgire. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia and pace ace Shikha Pandey have been drafted by the Trinbago Knight Riders.
“It’s been amazing. I’ve just attended one practice session, and then we went on a cruise for a team bonding activity. That was a really nice experience,” Harleen, for whom this is a maiden international franchise stint, told reporters on Friday.
The 28-year-old has been part of the Women’s Premier League since its inaugural edition in 2023, representing Gujarat Giants for three seasons. Most recently, she played for the UP Warriorz. She has amassed 653 runs in 28 innings overall, striking at 116.19.
“Shashank Shekhar Tapikar (Cricket Operations, Barbados Tridents) sir had approached me and asked whether I wanted to play in WCPL. I said ‘why not’. It’d be a different experience, different wickets, and different people. Franchise cricket is a bit different but it’s good for learning,” the 28-year-old batter revealed.
Harleen was part of India’s 2025 ODI World Cup-winning squad and travelled to England for the historic first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s, although she didn’t feature in the four-day fixture.
However, the Punjab player did not make the T20 World Cup 2026, Asia Cup, and the Asian Games squads. The last time she played a T20I for India was last December. Moreover, she was also left out of the India A squads for the ongoing multi-format home series against the visiting Australians after captaining One-Day A squad during the England tour in May. India won the 50-over leg 2-1, with Harleen registering a half century in the opening fixture too.
Missing out on action with the Indian setup, at A or senior level, doesn’t bother her.
“I don’t think a lot about these things. Wherever I am, it’s the same cricket that is to be played. I just want to play and enjoy, and give my best wherever I’m playing,” she explained.
“I don’t think as a player you change a lot in your technique. Yes, you can watch someone and learn something from them. But I don’t think you can change your technique through this method. I have not changed too much,” she said when asked whether she would use this WCPL stint to better her T20 game.
“If we talk about internationals, it’s not that I haven’t done well in T20Is. It’s about the combinations that fit in.”
For now, Harleen wants to bank on a tried and tested mantra during her stay in the Caribbean: going with the flow.
“ Ye sab plan karte karte banda fass jata hai (You get stuck as soon as you start planning what you want to achieve). I’m someone who takes it one day at a time. If you think too much ahead, it can disappoint you. In T20 cricket, I’m focussing on my process and not the result.”
Published on Sep 13, 2026