Harleen Reflects on Her Maiden ODI Century and Her Mother's Joy
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New Delhi, Dec 25 (NationPress) India batter Harleen Deol celebrated her first ODI century during the team's impressive 115-run victory against the West Indies, revealing her thoughts about how overjoyed her mother would be upon witnessing her achieve this milestone in international cricket.
At Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, Harleen scored 115 runs off 103 balls, smashing 16 boundaries to propel India to a total of 358/5, marking their joint-highest score in women's ODIs. She reached her half-century in 62 balls, before significantly accelerating to complete her century in just 98 balls.
"My mom often reminds me that God rewards those who share happiness. If you don't share it, God holds back, as He won't be pleased with such a small joy. It's part of God's plan, and we just need to keep our faith in Him. That's all there is to it," Harleen shared.
"You can’t just wish to score 100 in the next ten matches; anything is possible. While batting, I was thinking about how happy my mom would be. I recall the time I got injured, and everyone was around me, but my mom never showed irritation even when I couldn't walk. I couldn’t even pick up a water bottle," Harleen added in a video shared by the BCCI on their social media.
The importance of Harleen's innings is magnified by the fact that she had previously faced a knee injury while playing for Gujarat Giants in the WPL 2024, which necessitated an ACL surgery in Mumbai. Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored a rapid 34-ball fifty and partnered with Harleen for a crucial 116-run stand off just 71 balls, expressed her delight at witnessing Harleen’s achievement.
"When I visited her during rehab, all she needed to do was keep her leg straight. I remember seeing tears fall from Harry’s eyes, and as a friend, it was hard for me to watch. From that day to this one, I was filled with emotion when I was at the non-striker end, and she achieved that 100," Jemimah stated.
Reflecting on her rehabilitation journey, Harleen said, "In rehab, you continuously overcome small challenges, which strengthens your mind. We often plan ahead, but life doesn’t always follow that path. So, I focus on living one day at a time, cherishing each moment. Each day brings a new beginning."
This victory also secured India the ODI series following their earlier success in the T20I series, which they won 2-1. The team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will play their concluding game of the 50-over series against the West Indies in Vadodara on Friday morning.
