New Delhi, August 23: Poonam Yadav is regarded as one of India’s finest spin bowlers. She has made a significant mark in T20 international cricket with her spinning deliveries. However, her journey has been fraught with challenges.
Born on August 24, 1991, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Poonam developed a passion for cricket early on. She often accompanied her older brother to the field, playing cricket with boys. Gradually, her spinning skills began to impress everyone around her.
Despite her enthusiasm, Poonam’s parents were not supportive of her cricket aspirations. Her father frequently discouraged her from playing, often scolding her. Nevertheless, Poonam was determined to pursue a career in cricket. At just eight years old, she ventured to a stadium alone and returned with coach Hemlata Kala to convince her father to allow her to play.
While training at the stadium, Poonam faced criticism from relatives directed at her parents. Despite this, her parents maintained their trust in her abilities. Poonam consistently performed well in domestic cricket, earning a spot on the Central Zone team and later representing Uttar Pradesh.
Her hard work paid off in 2013 when she made her T20 international debut against Bangladesh. Just a week later, she was also included in the ODI team. To date, Poonam has played 72 T20 internationals, claiming 98 wickets, and has taken 80 wickets in 58 ODIs. She played her only Test match for India against South Africa in 2014.
Poonam was part of the Indian team in the 2017 and 2022 ODI World Cups, playing a crucial role in leading the team to the finals in 2017. She also garnered acclaim for her outstanding bowling in the T20 World Cups held in 2018 and 2020. However, she has been absent from the national team since 2022. In recognition of her achievements, Poonam was awarded the ‘Arjuna Award’ by the government in 2019.
Leave a Comment