Who is Salonee Dangore? From Track Star to WCPL Player

New Delhi, Sep 13 (NationPress) Achieving a position in an international T20 league is an uncommon accomplishment for a player without prior caps, especially for one who has yet to participate in their nation's leading franchise T20 league.

When such selections occur, they underscore a player’s remarkable potential and signify a pivotal advancement in their career. Salonee Dangore’s current debut in the ongoing Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) is a prime example of this.

The relatively unknown leg-spinner, marking her as the third Indian player to participate in the WCPL this season after Shreyanka Patil and Shikha Pandey, has garnered considerable attention and curiosity. Although Salonee has yet to make her mark in the wicket-taking statistics for the Trinbago Knight Riders, she is embracing the opportunity to explore the Caribbean.

“It's going really well. I'm feeling really good here. Honestly, I was a little nervous. But I transformed that into excitement and it felt really good as soon as I arrived in the Caribbean. Now it's going smoothly. We engage a lot with local Caribbean players, learning about their stories and culture, and it feels wonderful,” Salonee shared in an interview with IANS, facilitated by FanCode, the official broadcaster of the WCPL.

She has also benefited from the mentorship of legendary Indian fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, and being part of TKR’s playing eleven alongside Shikha and Jess Jonassen, players she closely observed during her net bowler tenure with Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

“Jhulan di is here and provides us with valuable insights during our practice sessions. Her experiences, along with Shikha di's, have been immensely helpful. It feels amazing to play alongside them. In two years with DC as a net bowler, I had numerous interactions with Shikha and Jess.

“Now I'm on the same team as them, which feels great. They support me and we discuss cricket often, which is wonderful. The learnings I gained from DC regarding tactical approaches and work ethics, as well as witnessing what makes them legends of the game, have been invaluable,” she elaborated.

“During WPL matches, we would gather in our room and discuss strategies – like if I were playing, how I could've approached things differently. The same occurred when I played my first match here.”

“After the game, they provided me with feedback on what I could improve and what areas I could focus on. I applied all of that in the nets, and it played a crucial role in my development,” she added.

The significance of power hitting in T20 cricket during the WPL made Salonee realize the need to sharpen her batting skills. “I began focusing on that and now that I'm here, I aim to contribute my power hitting abilities to the team.”

In Guyana, where the pitches are likely to be slow and conducive to spin, Dangore sees a chance to shine. “That suits my bowling style. I also aspire to be among the top wicket-takers and help my team secure the title,” she stated.

Growing up in Indore, Salonee was deeply involved in athletics, competing in the 100m and 200m sprints, as well as long jump. Her father is a Telecom District Manager with BSNL, while her mother, Vibha, who had a passion for basketball, played a crucial role in her sports journey, as her own sporting dreams never came to fruition.

Until 2015, Salonee had little interest in cricket and was unaware of what leg-spin even was until her mother’s coach, Jose Chacko, a Sports and Youth Welfare Officer in Bhopal, suggested that she might find better prospects in cricket than athletics. At the age of 16, Salonee transitioned from athletics to cricket, paving the way for an extraordinary journey.

“My mother’s coach said she is very active, and if you put her in cricket, she will quickly grasp the game. So my mom decided to switch me to cricket, and that’s how it began,” she reminisced.

When Salonee received the call for WCPL selection, it was a delightful surprise for her family. “Everyone was thrilled because there was no expectation, and this opportunity emerged unexpectedly. My mother was overjoyed and a bit emotional upon hearing this,” Salonee recalled.

She initially joined the academy of former Ranji Trophy player Sunil Lahore, who recognized her potential to be a leg-spinner rather than a medium pacer. Her bowling was further honed at the Ramesh Bhatia Cricket Foundation (RBCF) under coaches Sanjay Choubey and Himanshu Vairagi.

“Initially, I aimed to be a medium pacer. However, my coach advised me to become a leg-spinner. Then I joined RBCF academy, where I diligently worked on my leg-spin, and that’s how it all started.”

At the start, Salonee would watch legendary Shane Warne’s videos in slow motion to replicate his technique. She considers herself fortunate to have received guidance from former India spinner Narendra Hirwani over the last three years.

“I first met him three years ago when I was playing at MPCA, where he was a spin coach. He observed my bowling, and that’s how we began our interaction. He has not only refined my skills but also worked on my mindset significantly. I feel more confident while bowling, and all these improvements are thanks to him,” she stated.

In search of better opportunities after limited game time in Madhya Pradesh across U16, U19, and senior levels, Salonee moved to Chhattisgarh before the 2024-25 domestic season (though she will be representing a new team in the upcoming season).

Consistent opportunities with bat and ball there for Chhattisgarh caught the eye of keen WPL scouts, leading to her selection as a net bowler for DC. It wouldn’t be surprising if her net bowling experience with DC proved to be a catalyst for Salonee’s WCPL deal.

“This has been a tremendous exposure because coming to another country and playing with top players offers extensive learning regarding the advancements in the game and how to prepare to compete at that level.”

“So far, it has been a great experience. It’s been an excellent opportunity to play in another country and learn from top players regarding how the game has evolved and how to prepare for that level,” she noted.

Before heading to the Caribbean, Salonee received wise counsel from Hirwani. “He advised, ‘You need to play fearless cricket; we don’t want to prove anything. You are already there. Just express yourself freely while playing and enjoy’.”

While Salonee is eager to make her mark on the WCPL wicket-takers list, she draws significant inspiration from Shreyanka. Back in 2023, Shreyanka was uncapped when signed by Guyana Amazon Warriors for WCPL and emerged as the leading wicket-taker with nine wickets in five matches.

From there, she became the leading wicket-taker in RCB’s WPL 2024 triumph and represented India in both white-ball formats. “Yes, I observed her matches at that time. She hadn’t yet represented India, and due to her WCPL performance, she earned that opportunity. To a great extent, I have similar expectations. Therefore, I see this WCPL as a stepping stone toward my ultimate dream,” Salonee concluded.