Radha Yadav's T20 WC selection a massive improvement story: Tanuja Kanwar
Synopsis
Radha Yadav's return to India's T20 World Cup squad is no accident — it was built on 224 domestic runs, a Bangkok title as captain, and a WPL knock of 66, all while senior rivals were sidelined by injury. Teammate Tanuja Kanwar calls it a 'massive improvement' story, while also flagging India A's growing role as a genuine finishing school for international cricket.
Key Takeaways
Tanuja Kanwar described Radha Yadav's inclusion in the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup squad as a "big comeback" driven by "massive improvement" with bat and ball.
Radha scored 114 runs in the WPL for RCB , made 75 runs and took 10 wickets captaining India A at the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Bangkok , and scored 224 runs with 12 wickets in domestic multi-day cricket.
Injuries to Amanjot Kaur (back) and Kashvee Gautam (right knee) also contributed to Radha's recall.
India A women's team will tour England from 20 June to 4 July — the first such tour — playing at Northampton , Chelmsford , Hove , and Taunton .
Tanuja, who has played 2 ODIs and 4 T20Is for India, highlighted the BCCI's increased India A scheduling as a key development pathway.
Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Tanuja Kanwar has described Radha Yadav's inclusion in the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup squad as a "big comeback," crediting the selection to a "massive improvement" with both bat and ball. Tanuja shared her views exclusively on the sidelines of the 'Fancatchstic Chapter 2' event in New Delhi.
Radha's Road Back to the T20I Squad
Radha Yadav last featured in a T20I during India's tour of England in 2025, where she picked six wickets as the visitors won both white-ball series. She subsequently earned a place in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup winning squad. However, a crowded pool of left-arm spinners meant she was left out of T20I series against Sri Lanka, Australia, and South Africa.
Her return was built on a string of standout performances across formats. Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women's Premier League (WPL), Radha helped the side win the title for the second time, scoring 114 runs in 9 matches — including a knock of 66. Captaining India A to the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars title in Bangkok, she made 75 runs and picked 10 wickets at five runs per over. In the Senior Women's Inter Zonal Multi Day Trophy, she amassed 224 runs in four innings with a highest score of 108, and claimed 12 wickets, finishing second in both batting and bowling charts for the West Zone.
Injuries Open the Door Further
Injuries to seam-bowling all-rounders Amanjot Kaur (back) and Kashvee Gautam (right knee) further aided Radha's return. Her all-round consistency, combined with the gaps created by these absences, sealed her place in the squad for both the T20 World Cup and the preceding three-match series against England.
"I think it was very good. She was selected for the T20 World Cup. I think it was a big comeback as the way she improved her bowling and batting, it was a massive improvement. I also think her captaincy was very good (in the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup). I think she handled the hard situations very well and was really good at it," Tanuja said.
India A's England Tour and the Value of Shadow Cricket
Tanuja's own focus now shifts to the upcoming India A tour of England, comprising three 50-over games and three T20 matches, scheduled from 20 June to 4 July. T20 games will be held at Northampton and Chelmsford from 20–25 June, while one-day matches will take place at Hove and Taunton from 28 June to 4 July.
With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) increasing the frequency of shadow tours, Tanuja — who has played two ODIs and four T20Is for India — highlighted the growing importance of the India A structure. "Now India A is having matches consistently. I think it is a very big thing as in India A matches, we get to play with the big players and face other huge players. There is a level of maturity players get while playing in India A set-up and then become totally prepared to play for the Indian team," she said.
She added that the England tour would be a first for the India A women's team in that country. "It is the first time India A women's team is going to England. I am feeling very good in thinking about the conditions there, as we have never played in such conditions before. Yes, it will be a little challenging, but we will prepare for it," she elaborated.
Resilience After UAE Defeat in Bangkok
Reflecting on India A's triumph at the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Bangkok, Tanuja recalled the mental reset required after a surprise opening defeat to the UAE. "We were a little disappointed that we were a very good team and we lost a game. But we were told that in cricket, this is no issue — one day you lose to a team. But how we have to come back is very important. So I think we applied the same thing," she said.
Tanuja, who picked nine wickets in the competition, also noted the challenge of transitioning from the batter-friendly WPL surfaces to the sluggish Bangkok pitches. "The pitches were very slow, so we had to manage that. We went to WPL where the pitches were very good. So it took us some time to see and adapt to the conditions. But later we applied ourselves to the conditions correctly," she explained.
Eyes on Lord's Test
While the India A schedule in England does not include a match at Lord's, Tanuja expressed a personal ambition to watch the one-off Women's Test at the iconic venue, scheduled from 10–13 July. "Everyone wants to play at Lord's. Though we don't have any matches there, we do have a dream of playing at Lord's. Yes, if we get a chance, we will definitely go to watch the Test match at Lord's," she concluded.
Point of View
Which raises a fair question about depth planning. More broadly, the BCCI's push to expand India A fixtures is overdue: for years, the women's pipeline was thin precisely because shadow cricket was treated as an afterthought. If India A's England tour becomes a template rather than an exception, the national side's bench strength could look markedly different by the next World Cup cycle.
NationPress
4 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Radha Yadav selected for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup?
Radha Yadav was selected following a strong run of all-round performances across the WPL, the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Bangkok — where she captained India A to the title — and the Senior Women's Inter Zonal Multi Day Trophy. Injuries to all-rounders Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam also contributed to her recall.
What did Tanuja Kanwar say about Radha Yadav's T20 World Cup selection?
Tanuja Kanwar called it a "big comeback," saying Radha showed "massive improvement" with both bat and ball. She also praised Radha's captaincy during the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup, saying she "handled the hard situations very well."
When and where will India A women's team tour England?
The India A women's tour of England runs from 20 June to 4 July 2025. T20 matches will be played at Northampton and Chelmsford from 20–25 June, while one-day games will be held at Hove and Taunton from 28 June to 4 July.
How did India A perform at the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Bangkok?
India A won the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup title in Bangkok despite losing their opening match to the UAE. Tanuja Kanwar credited the team's mental resilience for the turnaround, picking nine wickets herself in the tournament.
Who is Tanuja Kanwar and what is her international record?
Tanuja Kanwar is a left-arm spin bowling all-rounder who has represented India in two ODIs and four T20Is. She is currently part of the India A setup and is set to tour England with the side in June–July 2025.
