Deandra Dottin, the dynamic all-rounder from the West Indies, has long been regarded as one of the most explosive big hitters in world cricket. Known for her fearless stroke play and match-winning abilities, Dottin brought her power-hitting prowess to the Gujarat Giants in the third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Making a strong impact on the field, she not only enjoyed a successful campaign but was also captivated by the overwhelming support for women’s cricket in India. The first centurion in the history of Women T20 Internationals, Dottin said, “I thoroughly enjoyed playing at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) stadium in Kotambi, where the facilities were excellent.”
During her stint with the Gujarat Giants in the WPL, Dottin experienced firsthand the growing enthusiasm for women’s cricket in India. The swashbuckling West Indies all-rounder, known for her explosive batting, was deeply moved by the passionate crowds that turned up to support the game. Reflecting on the remarkable progress of women’s cricket over the years, Dottin shared her thoughts on the evolving landscape of the sport and the recognition it now enjoys.
“It is good to see the way Indian fans encourage women cricketers. It’s fantastic to see that women’s cricket has evolved so much since the time I started playing the game. Finally, it is getting the kind of attention it deserves, and people are coming to the stadium to watch our matches. What more can a professional cricketer ask for? When fans come to watch you play and your matches are televised, you feel that you deserve to be here. There is no better feeling than that!”
She added that during their stay in Vadodara, they visited the Laxmi Vilas Palace and had a pleasant conversation with Radhikaraje Gaekwad from the Baroda royal family. She mentioned that she quite liked the city and what she loved most about India was the warm welcome she received in every city she travelled to. Although she described herself as a big foodie, she found Indian food a bit spicy and preferred to avoid chilies, but she managed to find non-spicy options as well, she said with a laugh.
In a crunchy T20 game, pressure curtails the power-hitting of aplenty batters, but Dottin is built from some different mud. Since opting out of retirement prior to the T20 World Cup 2024, the 33-year-old has looked in scintillating touch of firepower with the bat. She went down the hammer at the WPL auction for a whopping INR 1.70 crore, and her flabbergasting batting comes out with ease without any pressure.
“’Pressure never bothers me; I play my natural game’, she added. On being asked about the comparison with Chris Gayle, she laughs, “I gave myself that name and it’s pretty nice, isn’t it? Before I took up cricket professionally, I used to represent Barbados in athletics, especially javelin throw and shot put. I was doing pretty well and creating new records in athletics.
That’s how that name came about (smiles). However, there came a time when schedules of athletics and cricket were clashing, and I had to choose one. It has been a wonderful journey.”
When asked about coping with the pressure of expectations and comparisons with Chris Gayle, she said that she enjoyed performing under pressure and it did not really bother her. She added that she simply played her natural game and trusted her ability.
West Indies would contest in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier which will soon go underway in Pakistan. However, prior to the commencement, Deandra Dottin could not make it to the 15-member squad on account of injury. In the Eliminator of the third season of the Women’s Premier League, Dottin suffered an injury before the toss, which eventually hurt the eventual losers Gujarat Giants as they crashed out of the competition.
(Quotes sourced from Times of India)
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