Harleen Deol is a prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, known for her exceptional batting and bowling skills. She’s achieved significant milestones in her career, both domestically and internationally, becoming an inspiration for aspiring cricketers.
Wiki/Biography
Harleen Kaur Deol was born on Sunday, June 21, 1998 (age 25 years; as of 2023) in Chandigarh, Punjab. Her zodiac sign is Gemini. She completed her schooling at Yadvindra Public School, Mohali, and pursued her arts graduation at MCM DAV College, Chandigarh.
Her passion for cricket blossomed at a young age. Starting at seven years old, she played with her brother and his friends. Despite facing initial resistance from neighbors, her mother supported her, and her talent was recognized by her school’s cricket coach, Praveen Singha, who saw her potential at just eight years old. This led to her joining the U-19 school team, and subsequently, her journey into competitive cricket began under the guidance of coach RP Singh. Bret Lee was her childhood idol.
Physical Appearance
Here’s a summary of Harleen’s physical attributes:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Height (approx.) | 5’3″ |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
Family
Parents & Siblings
Harleen’s father, Baghel Singh Deol, is a businessman, and her mother, Charanjit Kaur Deol, is a government employee. She has an older brother, Manjot Singh Deol, who is a doctor.
Affairs/Boyfriends
Reports suggest she had a boyfriend named Majid Malik during her school days.
Cricket
Domestic
Harleen began her domestic career playing for Punjab Women in the sub-junior tournament at the age of 10. Seeking better opportunities, she later joined the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. A notable achievement includes scoring 116 runs for the north zone against the east zone in an inter-zonal tournament in 2015. She faced a setback in 2017 due to a finger injury.
Initially a lower-order batter, her impressive performance against Hyderabad, where she brought her team’s score from 22/4 to over 100, earned her a promotion to opener. She went on to score 49 runs in her first match as an opener. She’s also represented India Red Women.
International
One Day International
Harleen received her ODI cap from Jhulan Goswami in February 2019, marking her debut for India’s national team. Her ODI debut was against England at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on February 22, 2019.
T20
Her T20 International debut was on March 4, 2019, against England Women in Guwahati. She was part of the Indian squad in the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia, and has also played for India A Women and India C Women.
Women’s T20 Challenge
Harleen debuted in the Women’s T20 Challenge on May 6, 2019, playing for IPL Trailblazers, forming a notable 119-run partnership with Smriti Mandhana. She played for Trailblazers until 2020 and joined IPL Supernovas in 2022.
Commonwealth Games
In July 2022, she was part of the Indian Women’s team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The team reached the finals, defeating England in the semi-finals, ultimately securing a silver medal after a loss to Australia.
Women’s Premier League (WPL)
Gujarat Giants acquired her services for Rs. 40 lakhs during the inaugural Women’s Premier League auctions in February 2023.
Catch of the Year
Her incredible catch to dismiss Amy Jones of England in July 2021, during a T20I match, earned widespread praise, including recognition from Sachin Tendulkar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Favourites
- Ball: Googly
- Cricketers: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shane Warne, Suresh Raina, Sachin Tendulkar
- Footballers: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi
- Food: Chicken and Chilli Paneer (made by her mother)
- Actor: Ranveer Singh
- Film: Lagaan (2001)
- Singer: Gurdas Maan
- Book: You Can Win by Shiv Khera
- School Subject: Chemistry
Facts/Trivia
- Jersey number for India: 98
- Jersey number for IPL Trailblazers: 21
- Follows a non-vegetarian diet
- Enjoys dancing, watching movies, and playing golf
- Played basketball and football in school
- Nickname: Harry
- Aspired to be a pilot if not a cricketer
- Endorsed Fast&Up vitamins and supplements
- Dog lover
- Maintains a strict fitness regimen
- Fulfilling her grandmother Gurdev Kaur’s dream to become a cricketer
Leave a Reply