bangalore: Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk have been central figures in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s campaign this season, influencing the game with both bat and ball while seamlessly adapting their roles to suit the team’s needs.With the grand finale fast approaching, the all-rounders spoke about supporting their natural game, developing in a clearly defined team environment and how the Women’s Premier League was the ideal build-up for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
De Klerk isn’t just enjoying a good WPL season, she’s defining it. With his ability to run under pressure, control in the middle overs and nerves of steel in the dying seconds, the South African has emerged as one of the league’s outstanding all-rounders. This is a template that reflects her success at ICC events. Clarity of role, calm in the midst of chaos, and the ability to influence the game in every phase.Her red-hot form is more than just a WPL storyline, it serves as an early warning for teams heading into the World Cup. De Klerk said Tuesday that his faith plays a key role in maintaining his never-give-up attitude. “I think a little bit of faith really helps. If you’re a professional, you know that things don’t always go your way. It’s important to come to terms with the fact that sometimes you’re going to fail. You have to learn and move on,” she said.“One small prayer can truly work miracles. It helps calm your mind. Once you calm down, you can make better decisions and tap into your natural skills.”De Klerk is currently second in the bowlers’ list with 15 wickets in eight matches.In the early days of the World Cup and now in the WPL, the 26-year-old helped the team repeatedly for South Africa and RCB. But she enjoys being in the game with the game on the line.“I love the pressure when the game is on the line and I want to win. It’s about playing to my strengths,” added de Klerk, who enjoys a partnership with Richa Ghosh in midfield. However, these friends will become rivals on the international stage.Meanwhile, Grace, who was not traditionally an opener, adapted smoothly to the role and gave RCB a strong start along with skipper Smriti Mandhana.“I don’t have to bat in a certain spot. I was given a role and told to ‘go cheese, not the cat’. Don’t be afraid to take extra risks and go out there,” the Australian said.“It was great to bat with Smriti. She is the complete opposite of me, but sometimes opposites work on match days and sometimes things go horribly wrong. I’m happy to say that this time the opposite worked.”Harris, who has been away from the national team for some time, added that the WPL has become an important platform for players to understand each other’s strengths as well as for selectors to identify pairings ahead of major tournaments.