'Just Want To Play Freely' - Harleen Deol Readies Herself For Maiden WCPL Stint With Tridents

By Pramit Meher

**'Just Want To Play Freely': Harleen Deol Settles In For First WCPL Run With Barbados Tridents** India's 2025 ODI World Cup winner Harleen Deol has joined the Barbados Tridents for the WCPL, and it's been a whirlwind—she arrived just two days ago after a last-minute call from franchise management (Shashank sir reached out, she said, and her answer was a simple "Yeah, why not?"). After attending one practice session and a team bonding cruise, Harleen's vibe is pure excitement mixed with humility. "It's a very different experience and environment... it's been amazing actually." **The mindset that defines her:** zero pressure, just cricket. The India batter—who last featured in a T20I vs Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram in Dec 2025—insists she's here to enjoy the game, not overthink it. "I just want to play freely... I don't want to think about all those things. If you're playing anywhere and giving your best, that's all that matters." **On the value of franchise cricket:** Harleen, who's had stints in the WPL and the now-defunct Women's T20 Challenge, believes stepping outside your comfort zone is where real growth happens. "When you play in a different team, you experience a different challenge... seeing different mindsets, there's a lot to learn." **On technique:** she's keeping it simple—no major overhauls. "I haven't changed too much... It's not that I haven't done well internationally. It's just that the combinations fitting in haven't given me much playing time." Franchise cricket, she says, gives players room to *express* themselves. **Up next:** a Saturday clash against the Jamaica Empress, which she hopes will reveal local pitch conditions. "I'll only know when I've played on them." **Her grounding philosophy:** "I enjoy one day at a time... focusing on my process, not too much on the result." Good to see a player this grounded stepping onto the global stage. 🌴🏏 *Source: IANS / FanCode* Source: Cricketnmore