Radha credits WPL stint, team's backing for India return after 11 months
New Delhi, June 28
India spinner Radha Yadav has spoken about her return to the national T20I setup after an 11-month gap, revealing how work done during the Women's Premier League, the support of the team management, and continuous learning from teammates and opponents have prepared her for the latest chapter of her international career.
Ahead of India's ongoing campaign, the left-arm spinner also explained how the WPL has transformed the pathway to international cricket and praised senior players Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana for shaping the team's culture.
Reflecting on her comeback, Radha said the time away from the Indian side allowed her to broaden both her batting and bowling skills while receiving the confidence to develop her game in her own way.
"I am rejoining the T20I team after almost a gap of 11 months. It feels good to be back. Recently, we played the WPL. In that tournament, I added quite a few things to my game, especially how to hit with more power, how to score quickly in the death overs, and how to vary my pace and use my variations better with the ball. I have worked on all those aspects of my game. The Indian team staff has also backed me a lot. They have been very open with me. They gave me the freedom to set things according to my own way. So, having that backing makes a huge difference," Radha told JioStar.
The experienced spinner also described how improvement is a constant process, insisting that players can always find opportunities to grow by observing those around them.
"Personally, I learn a lot from everyone around me, teammates, coaches, even opponents. Learning never stops as long as you are playing the game. If you don't understand something about your own game, you can watch others and pick up things. Watching how they bowl, how they set their field, how they handle pressure, all of it helps," she stated.
She added that the role of a spinner remains rooted in discipline and execution rather than searching for unnecessary complexity. "Our conversations are always about how to take wickets and how to keep the run rate down. As a spinner, that is our job. We can't do too many extra things. We have to stick to our strengths, use our variations, and keep hitting the right areas."
Radha also highlighted the impact of the Women's Premier League on India's talent pipeline, saying the competition has become an important bridge between domestic cricket and the international stage.
"Not everyone gets to play a lot of cricket before stepping onto the international stage. Moving directly from domestic to international cricket is not easy. There is a huge jump in quality and pressure. Luckily, now there is the WPL, so players get some exposure to international-level competition before playing for India. That helps them adjust faster," Radha said.
Comparing the pathway available during the early years of her career, she explained that the current generation enters the national team with far more experience.
"But in our time, it wasn't like that. We played domestic cricket and then directly moved to internationals. There was no middle ground. Now, the young players who are coming in have already polished their skills. They adapt much faster. By the time they reach the national team, they just need a little push, some guidance on handling pressure and adapting to different situations. Nothing more," she noted.
The left-arm spinner also credited captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana for creating an environment where new players are encouraged to settle quickly and express themselves freely.
"Credit goes to both Harman Di and Smriti Di, their inputs for the team have always been very important over the years. Whenever there is a tough situation, whether it's with the bat, on the field, or in the dressing room, they are always there to guide us. We have seen for years how both of them have built this team. They have led from the front and also helped the youngsters coming in. They make sure that every new player feels like they belong. Whoever comes into the team gets enough freedom to express their skills and be themselves," Radha concluded.
--IANS
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New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) India spinner Radha Yadav has spoken about her return to the national T20I setup after an 11-month gap, revealing how work done during the Women's Premier League (WPL), the support of the team management, and continuous learning from teammates and opponents have prepared her for the latest chapter of her international career.
Ahead of India's ongoing campaign, the left-arm spinner also explained how the WPL has transformed the pathway to international cricket and praised senior players Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana for shaping the team's culture.
Reflecting on her comeback, Radha said the time away from the Indian side allowed her to broaden both her batting and bowling skills while receiving the confidence to develop her game in her own way.
"I am rejoining the T20I team after almost a gap of 11 months. It feels good to be back. Recently, we played the WPL. In that tournament, I added quite a few things to my game, especially how to hit with more power, how to score quickly in the death overs, and how to vary my pace and use my variations better with the ball. I have worked on all those aspects of my game. The Indian team staff has also backed me a lot. They have been very open with me. They gave me the freedom to set things according to my own way. So, having that backing makes a huge difference," Radha told JioStar.
The experienced spinner also described how improvement is a constant process, insisting that players can always find opportunities to grow by observing those around them.
"Personally, I learn a lot from everyone around me, teammates, coaches, even opponents. Learning never stops as long as you are playing the game. If you don't understand something about your own game, you can watch others and pick up things. Watching how they bowl, how they set their field, how they handle pressure, all of it helps," she stated.
She added that the role of a spinner remains rooted in discipline and execution rather than searching for unnecessary complexity. "Our conversations are always about how to take wickets and how to keep the run rate down. As a spinner, that is our job. We can't do too many extra things. We have to stick to our strengths, use our variations, and keep hitting the right areas."
Radha also highlighted the impact of the Women's Premier League on India's talent pipeline, saying the competition has become an important bridge between domestic cricket and the international stage.
"Not everyone gets to play a lot of cricket before stepping onto the international stage. Moving directly from domestic to international cricket is not easy. There is a huge jump in quality and pressure. Luckily, now there is the WPL, so players get some exposure to international-level competition before playing for India. That helps them adjust faster," Radha said.
Comparing the pathway available during the early years of her career, she explained that the current generation enters the national team with far more experience.
"But in our time, it wasn't like that. We played domestic cricket and then directly moved to internationals. There was no middle ground. Now, the young players who are coming in have already polished their skills. They adapt much faster. By the time they reach the national team, they just need a little push, some guidance on handling pressure and adapting to different situations. Nothing more," she noted.
The left-arm spinner also credited captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana for creating an environment where new players are encouraged to settle quickly and express themselves freely.
"Credit goes to both Harman Di and Smriti Di, their inputs for the team have always been very important over the years. Whenever there is a tough situation, whether it's with the bat, on the field, or in the dressing room, they are always there to guide us. We have seen for years how both of them have built this team. They have led from the front and also helped the youngsters coming in. They make sure that every new player feels like they belong. Whoever comes into the team gets enough freedom to express their skills and be themselves," Radha concluded.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good for her, but 11 months is a long gap for a player of her experience. The team management should have given her more chances earlier. Still, glad she's back and she's using the WPL experience well. Let's hope she delivers consistently now.
What an honest interview! I love how she admits that even spinners need to work on batting and power hitting now. The game has evolved so much. And credit to the senior players for creating a supportive environment. This is how you build a team! 💪✨
The WPL really is a game-changer for Indian women's cricket. Earlier players would jump from domestic to international and struggle. Now they get exposure to top-quality competition before playing for India. Radha's comeback story is a perfect example of this. Well said!
I appreciate her honesty about needing to improve batting too. In modern T20 cricket, even bowlers have to contribute with the bat. And the way she credits the team management for giving her freedom - that's the kind of trust-based culture every team needs. Go Radha! 🎯
R Raju S (Mumbai) Radha is a fighter. She was out of the team for almost a year but she kept working hard in domestic and WPL. That shows real character. The way she talks about learning from others - that's the attitude we need in Indian sports. All the best, Radha! 🏏 We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.