New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- For Hayley Matthews, the past few weeks have been about lingering heartbreak. The West Indies captain is sitting out the ongoing Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) with a shoulder injury that will also require surgery. For a player who has rarely spent time away from the field in more than a decade, the break feels both strange and perhaps, a blessing in disguise. "It's a bit disappointing not being able to play," Matthews told HT in an interaction facilitated by FanCode. "I would have loved to be a part of the CPL. But the shoulder has been niggling, and I do have to take care of it. I head for surgery this week, and then I have about nine to twelve weeks out to kind of recover and get the shoulder right." But if the injury is one frustration, the other cuts far deeper. For the first time in 25 years, the West Indies will not feature at an ODI World Cup. In the Qualifiers in Lahore in April, West Indies chased down the target but needed to score a little quicker to pip Bangladesh's net run-rate. Matthews, who appeared visibly emotional reflecting on the campaign, said, "It was certainly very sad. Probably still is, and it's going to hurt a bit watching the games play over the next month or two," she said. "We shed a few tears after the tournament was over, especially that last match against Thailand where we got so close. Missing it by the smallest amount was really disappointing. We knew we weren't at our best during the tournament, and that's the reason we didn't qualify. But yeah, it's still going to hurt when the tournament starts." For a cricketer who has rarely missed action, Matthews sees perspective in the forced time off from the game. "I've been playing without a major injury for the last 10 years so I haven't really had the chance to have a big break. Probably not the ideal situation, but it might be a blessing in disguise. I kind of get the time off now to reset because 2026 is going to be very busy for us." For someone who has dominated in India not just in the maroon jersey but also in the Women's Premier League, watching from the outside will sting. Yet, Matthews' analytical mind has ideas on what might define the World Cup in India. "I feel like spinners are always going to do really well down there," she explained. "But the key could be a really good opening bowling pair with pace. If you have dynamic pacers who can come out and take early wickets with the new ball, that's going to make a big difference. Knowing that spin is probably going to be reliable, it's those first few overs that matter. A leg-spinner like Alana King could have a lot of success in India." She also spoke of the game's evolution, particularly with the rise of power-hitting. According to Matthews, leagues like the WCPL are helping players unlock new levels in their game. "Leagues like these are bridging the gap, especially in the West Indies. So a lot of players who haven't reached the international level yet now have the opportunity to do things that they otherwise wouldn't have been able to do. "It's certainly growing more and more," she said....