Mumbai, Feb. 6 -- Harmanpreet Kaur wanted to "slow down" after relentless cricket late last year. Fresh from a break - she was rested for the Ireland series - the India and Mumbai Indians captain is looking to pick up the pace again, with the Women's Premier League (WPL) starting on February 14.

In Mumbai to link up with her inaugural season-winning MI crew that has fresh additions, headlined by 16-year-old U-19 World Cup winner G Kamalini, Harmanpreet, 35, in an interview with HT talks about giving freedom to such young talents at MI and why she felt the need for a break. Excerpts:

Yes. When you're playing too much cricket, sometimes things can get too much for you. That way, I enjoyed this break. Thoda sa slow down kara life ko. I got s...