Harleen Deol is the force reshaping Indian women’s cricket

In 2021, in the first T20 International match against England, Indian cricketer Harleen Deol pulled off an amazing catch that went viral and even earned applause from the rival team. 

It happened late in the game when England’s Amy Jones was batting really well. She hit a powerful shot that looked certain to go for a six. Deol was standing near the boundary, and it seemed like the ball would sail over her head. 

But Harleen jumped up and caught the ball in the air.

However, her body was flying over the boundary line with the jump’s momentum. So, she tossed the ball back up in the air before stepping outside the boundary. 

Then, in a split second, she jumped back into the field, dove forward with her arms stretched out, and caught the ball again, completing the catch inside the boundary.  

Although India lost the match, Deol’s catch stole the spotlight. 

“For many people, that moment symbolised how far the Indian women’s team had come in terms of fielding,” says veteran sports journalist Amlan Chakraborty. 

“In the past, India wasn’t known for sharp fielding. Our players weren’t seen as the fittest, fastest, or most agile. There was a sense that the team lacked energy or athleticism,” he says. 

But this catch still lingers in many people’s minds and is considered one of the standout moments in Indian fielding history.

Praise for Deol came from all quarters, including fans, cricketing legends, business leaders, and political figures. 

Indian team captain Harmanpreet Kaur called the catch “brilliant” and said, “An effort like this can lift the team’s morale immensely because when you play a team sport, you require momentum as a unit.” 

Chakraborty says that when something like that goes viral, it reaches fans who typically follow only men’s cricket.  

“Many of those fans were reportedly astonished, as most people hadn’t expected that level of athleticism from an Indian woman cricketer. From that point of view, her fielding made a significant impact.” 

Born in the northern Indian state of Punjab, Deol, like most of her fellow cricketers, discovered her passion for the game while playing cricket in the streets and lanes with boys, which was frowned upon by many. However, with full support from her family, she started playing for the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association at the age of 13 and made her international debut in 2019. 

Fellow cricketer Bharti Fulmali has known Deol since 2018 when they played together in the Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy. Moreover, they debuted internationally in the same series against England in 2019. Now, they play for the same Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchise, Gujarat Giants. 

Fulmali says she shares a good rapport with her teammate, and since Deol is more experienced at the international level, she often offers insights on batting, handling different match situations, and how to approach each innings. 

“We discuss things like shot selection, game plans, and how to handle pressure. We’re always having healthy conversations about the game,” she adds. 

Fulmali says that when both of them debuted, their performances weren’t that great. However, Deol worked on herself and quickly found her place in the national team. 

“She was going through the same struggles I was, but she managed to overcome them, while I couldn’t, at least not at that time,” she says. 

“She often spoke about the importance of mental toughness. She worked with several coaches and focused on the mental side of the game, like learning how to handle pressure and stay focused. She used to talk about it a lot, and she’s truly put it into practice. That’s one of the key reasons she’s so successful now,” adds Fulmali.

During the WPL 2024 season, Deol sustained a serious knee injury while fielding and subsequently had to sit out for the rest of the season. 

Reflecting on her post-injury experience, she said that making a comeback means having to prove yourself all over again. When people see a player returning from injury, they closely watch to gauge the recovery. The pressure is on the player to be even more prepared than before, so that when they return, there’s no doubt that they are truly back. 

Deol marked her comeback during the ODI series in Australia in December 2024, scoring 70 runs at an average of 23.33. 

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Fulmali points out that her quick recovery and return to international cricket stand out, as that kind of comeback requires a lot of hard work.  “Besides being mentally and physically strong, consistency and patience are key to making a successful comeback, and it’s not easy at all.

“After an injury or a fracture, there’s this constant worry – what if it happens again? It’s a very delicate situation. You hesitate to push yourself because you fear worsening the injury. You’ve already lost a year to recovery. What if you lose more?” she explains.

According to Chakraborty, since that injury, Deol has been performing very well. “I would say she has significantly improved. That phase probably helped her shift focus and reflect more seriously on her game because when you’re playing continuously, you rarely get the time to step back and evaluate your approach. But that forced break may have allowed her to reset and refocus,” he says. 

Smriti Mandhana scored a century during the Indian women’s cricket tour of Australia in 2024, with Harleen Deol emerging as the second-highest scorer while batting at number three.

Harleen Deol may not be the biggest star in the Indian women’s squad, but observers agree that over the last six years, her profile has grown. 

She may not be the biggest name, but she plays an important role.

The year 2025 is especially significant for the women’s cricket team, as India will be hosting the ODI World Cup at home from September to November. 

“The World Cup being in India puts a spotlight on the team. Thanks to the emergence of players like Harleen, the pressure on Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana has eased a bit,” explains Chakraborty.  

Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are traditionally the team’s main scorers, expected to carry the bulk of the batting load. They were the star batters, while the middle order often looked vulnerable. But now, with players like Harleen stepping up, India is no longer over-reliant on Kaur and Mandhana.  

“She brings solidity to the top of the middle order,” says Chakraborty, however, also adds that one area where Deol could improve is her bowling.

“She’s essentially a part-time spin bowler, but I believe she has the potential to develop that skill further and add another string to her bow. She already contributes with the bat—sometimes in the top order, sometimes in the middle order,” he says.

“If she works on her bowling and strengthens it, she could become an even more valuable asset to the team by increasing her overall utility.”