India left-arm spinner Radha Yadav has declared winning the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 as her singular ambition, as she prepares for a fifth appearance at the global tournament — a milestone she describes as a privilege few cricketers ever reach. Speaking ahead of India's campaign opener against Pakistan on 14 June in Birmingham, Radha said pulling on the India jersey remains an unmatched feeling.

'First, I thanked God because people don't get so many opportunities. When you play for India, it is a different emotion and feeling. Playing for India is nice. It is at the top,' she said in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on X.

The Goal: Trophy, Nothing Less

Radha was unequivocal about what success looks like. 'This is my fifth edition of the T20 World Cup. It is very important. My goal is always to win the trophy. I need the trophy a lot because I play for that only,' she said. India has never won the Women's T20 World Cup, and the 2026 edition represents another opportunity to end that wait. The squad begins its campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Birmingham on 14 June.

Comeback Fuelled by Domestic Form

Radha returned to the national setup after missing series against Australia and South Africa, earning her recall through consistent performances in domestic cricket, India A fixtures, and the Women's Premier League (WPL), where she played a defined role for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). 'It felt very special that I came back to the team and everyone showed confidence in me. My domestic season was good, I had good performances for India A, and I had a defined role in RCB. All those things helped me,' she said.

Mental Battle Behind the Scenes

The 25-year-old spinner opened up about the psychological toll of her time away from international cricket. 'I used to put a lot of pressure on myself. I felt that because I had worked so hard, bowled so many overs and spent so many hours batting and practising, everything should work out. But until you feel that confidence on match day, there is a big difference. I worked a lot on those things mentally,' Radha explained. She credited her family and close friends as the pillars who helped her through the lowest point. 'I went as low as I could, and it was my family and friends who brought me back up. I will never forget that,' she said.

Team-First Approach Ahead of World Cup

Looking beyond personal milestones, Radha emphasised that collective contributions — however small — would define India's World Cup run. 'Even a small contribution is important because this is a team sport. Whether it is one over, a catch or saving runs in the field, everything matters. We try to help each other as much as possible. If we keep doing that, we will move closer to winning the trophy,' she added. This comes amid growing expectations around the Indian women's side, which has reached the final of the tournament before but is yet to claim the title.