New Delhi, May 4: Indian women’s cricket team’s left-arm spin all-rounder Tanuja Kanwar has stated that Radha Yadav‘s selection for the 2026 Women‘s T20 World Cup marks a significant comeback. She emphasized that Radha earned her spot due to substantial improvements in both her batting and bowling skills.
Radha last played a T20 match during India’s tour of England in 2025, where she took six wickets, contributing to India’s victories in both white-ball series. She was also included in the squad that won the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. However, due to the presence of several left-arm spinners, she did not get a chance to play in the T20 series against Sri Lanka, Australia, and South Africa.
Following this, Radha showcased her talent in the Women’s Premier League, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Her performance was pivotal in the team securing the title for the second time. In nine matches, she scored 114 runs, including a notable innings of 66 runs, though she managed to take only two wickets.
Radha also captained the India ‘A’ team to victory in the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament in Bangkok, scoring 75 runs and taking ten wickets at an impressive economy rate of five runs per over.
In the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy, the West Zone team finished as runners-up, with Radha scoring 224 runs in four innings, including a high score of 108 runs, while also taking 12 wickets. Her outstanding performance in both batting and bowling secured her a place in the T20 World Cup team, especially following injuries to seam bowling all-rounders Amanjot Kaur (back injury) and Kashvi Gautam (knee injury).
During a special interview at an event, Tanuja Kanwar remarked, “I believe it’s fantastic that Radha has been selected for the T20 World Cup. Her improvements in batting and bowling are significant, making this a major comeback. I think her captaincy in the Rising Stars Asia Cup was also commendable. She handled challenging situations very well.”
Now, Tanuja is focused on preparing the India ‘A’ team for their tour of England, where they will play three ODIs and three T20 matches from June 20 to July 4. The T20 matches will take place in Northampton and Chelmsford between June 20 and 25, while the ODIs will be held in Hove and Taunton from June 28 to July 4.
Tanuja noted that the BCCI’s initiative to extend the ‘shadow tour’ is providing players with better preparation for international cricket. She explained that previously, the India ‘A’ women’s team did not have many matches, but now they are playing consistently, which is highly beneficial for the players. Playing in the India ‘A’ team allows them to compete alongside seasoned players and against strong teams, fostering maturity and readiness for the national team.
She added, “We are playing in England for the first time. The conditions will be new for us. It will be somewhat challenging, but we will prepare well for it.”
Reflecting on the India ‘A’ team’s victory in the Rising Stars Women’s Asia Cup earlier this year in Bangkok, Tanuja discussed the mental resilience the team displayed after an unexpected loss to the UAE in their opening match. She said, “It felt great. We had previously been champions in the Emerging Asia Cup. After losing the first match, we were a bit disappointed because we knew we were a strong team. But we were reminded that in cricket, losing is not the end. How we bounce back after a loss is crucial. I think we adopted that mindset, which is why we won the trophy.”
Transitioning from the helpful pitches for batters in the Women’s Premier League to the slower pitches in Bangkok was a significant challenge for the team. Tanuja took nine wickets in the tournament, and she attributed her success to adjusting her bowling length. She stated, “The pitches were very slow, so we had to adapt accordingly. We came from the Women’s Premier League, where the pitches were excellent. It took us some time to understand and adjust to the conditions, but eventually, we adapted well.”
As an all-rounder, Tanuja follows the principle of prioritizing practice to maintain her grip on white-ball cricket. She mentioned, “We strive to give our best and work hard in our first practice sessions. We try to bowl and bat as much as possible. Therefore, when we give our all in practice sessions, it makes things easier for us in matches.”
Although the India ‘A’ schedule in England is quite busy, Tanuja is eager to catch the only Test match at Lord’s, scheduled from July 10 to 13. She expressed, “I think the most exciting thing about England is that everyone wants to play at Lord’s. Even though we don’t have a match there, it’s definitely a dream to play at Lord’s. Yes, if we get the chance, we will definitely go to watch the Test match at Lord’s.”
–
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
Leave a Comment