Hayley Matthews, the West Indies captain, is on cloud nine after winning her eighth consecutive player-of-the-match award in a record series against Australia. Despite losing the series decider by 47 runs in Brisbane, Matthews’ performances have been nothing short of remarkable. She hit a blistering 79 off 40 balls in the final match, adding to her earlier unbeaten 99 off 74 and astounding 132 from 64 deliveries. Matthews made history by becoming the first player to score over 300 runs in three women’s T20Is. Despite nearly missing out on their first series win against the world champions, Matthews remained optimistic about her form.

“I don’t think so,” says the 25-year-old when asked if she has ever been in better form. “Being able to notch up 300 runs in a three-game T20 series is something unbelievable. I set targets coming down here, and I can tell you it definitely wasn’t getting 300 runs in three T20s.” However, Matthews is now facing concerns about a quadriceps injury that she hopes won’t hinder her performance in the upcoming three-game ODI series in Brisbane. She acknowledges the team’s reliance on her and is determined to lead an improving squad.

Matthews first experienced tightness in her quadriceps during Monday’s second game and felt it again during the series decider on Thursday. Scans will be conducted to assess the severity of the injury. She remains optimistic, saying, “Hopefully it’s nothing too serious, and I’m all ready to go in the first game for the ODI series.”

Hayley Matthews has a profound impact on the West Indies team’s performance, particularly as captain. In 27 T20 innings as captain, her batting average is an impressive 40, compared to an average of 18 in 61 innings without the responsibility. Despite the occasional stress that comes with leadership, Matthews acknowledges that it’s a role she willingly shoulders. She also praises her teammate Stafanie Taylor’s contribution in the second game, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.

Joining the Renegades with Pick 10 is India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, whose return to the squad is eagerly anticipated. Harmanpreet’s outstanding performance in WBBL 7, where she excelled as both the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker for the Renegades, underlines her significance to the team.

Both Matthews and Kaur have been designated as Platinum picks, highlighting their exceptional skill and vast experience in the T20 format. Renegades’ coach, Simon Helmot, expressed his delight at securing these two cricketing stars and emphasized the importance of their contributions to the team.

“It was a tough decision – do we go Harmanpreet at pick three, or do we go Hayley, fortunately, it worked out for us that Harmanpreet was still available in the second round, so we could still get her as a Platinum pick,” Helmot said.

Matthews, previously associated with the Hobart Hurricanes, made a stellar debut with the Renegades last season. She showcased her skills with both bat and ball and even led the team in the absence of Sophie Molineux. Her achievements also extend to being named the Player of the Tournament in the inaugural Women’s IPL.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s return after missing the previous season due to injury brings back a player with a proven track record of success. Her exceptional performance in WBBL 7 solidified her status as a valuable asset to the Renegades.