Bengaluru: : Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk have been the heartbeat of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s campaign this season, impacting the game with both bat and ball as well as playing roles as per the team’s needs.With the grand finale looming, the all-rounders talked about supporting their natural game, thriving in a clearly defined team environment and how the Women’s Premier League has become the ideal build-up to the upcoming T20 World Cup.
De Klerk isn’t just enjoying a good WPL season – she’s defining it. With a knack for scoring runs under pressure, control in the middle overs and strong composure in the death overs, the South African has emerged as one of the league’s standout all-rounders. It’s a template that reflects his success at ICC events: clarity of role, calm amid the chaos, and the ability to influence the game at every stage.His fiery form is more than just a WPL tale – it serves as an early warning for teams heading into the World Cup. On Tuesday, De Klerk said faith plays a key role in maintaining his never-say-die attitude. “I think a little bit of confidence really helps. As a professional, you know things aren’t always going to go your way. Making peace with the fact that you’re going to fail sometimes is important. You need to learn and move forward,” she said.“A little prayer really does wonders. It helps you stay calm. Once you’re calm, you make better decisions and your natural skills kick in.”De Klerk is currently second in the list of bowlers with 15 wickets in eight matches.First in the World Cup and now in the WPL, the 26-year-old has time and again come to the rescue of her team – South Africa as well as RCB. However, keeping the game on the line is something she enjoys.“I love pressure when the game is on the line and I’m trying to win it. It’s just about sticking to my strengths,” said de Klerk, who has enjoyed her partnership with Richa Ghosh in the middle – although friends would turn rivals on the international stage.Meanwhile, Grace, who is not traditionally an opening batsman, has transitioned into her role with ease and has given RCB a strong start along with skipper Smriti Mandhana.“I don’t need to bat in any particular position. I was given a role and told to ‘go for the cheese, not for the cat’ – to take extra risks and not be afraid of getting out,” said the Australian.“Batting with Memory has been fantastic. He is the opposite of me, but on game days, sometimes opposites work and sometimes they go horribly wrong. I am happy to say that this time the opposite has worked.”After being away from the national team for some time, Harris said the WPL has become an important platform – not only for players to understand each other’s strengths, but also for selectors to identify combinations ahead of major tournaments.