Good to see young Indian women cricketers have power to hit sixes

Harmanpreet Kaur wanted to "slow down" after relentless cricket late last year.

- Rutvick Mehta

MUMBAI: Fresh from a break — she was rested for the Ireland series — the India and Mumbai Indians captain is looking to pick up the pace again, with the Women's Premier League (WPL) starting on February 14.

In Mumbai to link up with her inaugural season-winning MI crew that has fresh additions, headlined by 16-year-old U-19 World Cup winner G Kamalini, Harmanpreet, 35, in an interview with HT talks about giving freedom to such young talents at MI and why she felt the need for a break. Excerpts:

Fresh and hungry after a bit of a break?

Yes. When you're playing too much cricket, sometimes things can get too much for you. That way, I enjoyed this break. Thoda sa slow down kara life ko. I got some time to spend with family. Now I'm really looking forward to this season.

How do you slow down, switch off fully?

As international cricketers, we can't completely go away from cricket because then you can't maintain your fitness. I was still going to the NCA every alternate week to train. But having 2-3 days off, doing some things that you enjoyed when you were young, it helps. I met my family after two years; they were in Canada with my sister. It was an ideal time for me to take a break, and BCCI also supported me.