Every now and then, cricket throws up an outlier — someone who breaks into the spotlight without ticking the usual boxes. For India’s Salonee Dangore, that moment arrived in 2025 when she signed with the Trinbago Knight Riders for the Women’s Caribbean Premier League, despite never having played in the WPL or represented India.

Born in Madhya Pradesh on May 24, 1998, Dangore was originally an athlete, competing in sprint and long jump events before turning to cricket at the age of 17. Encouraged by her mother and guided by former Ranji player Sunil Lahore, she switched tracks and quickly found her footing as a leg-spinning all-rounder. She debuted for Madhya Pradesh in 2017–18 before moving to Chhattisgarh, where her performances in domestic cricket turned heads. In the 2024 Senior Women’s One Day Trophy, she picked up 15 wickets in six matches and chipped in with 144 runs, including a half-century.

A net bowler with the Delhi Capitals in the WPL, Dangore has trained alongside international names like Meg Lanning, Shikha Pandey, and Jess Jonassen. She credits former India leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani for shaping both her game and her mindset. Inspired by legends like Shane Warne, Rashid Khan, and Amelia Kerr, she models her cricket on the balance of spin and all-round impact.

Her WCPL contract in 2025 marks a rare breakthrough — proof that unconventional journeys can still lead to big stages. If she delivers in the Caribbean, the door to bigger opportunities, perhaps even the WPL itself, may not be far away.

(As of September 2025)