India left-arm spinner Radha Yadav has opened up about her return to the national T20I setup after an 11-month absence, attributing her comeback to the skills she sharpened during the Women's Premier League (WPL), the backing of the team management, and a habit of continuous learning from teammates and opponents alike. The spinner spoke ahead of India's ongoing campaign, offering a candid account of how the landscape for women cricketers has changed.

What the WPL stint added to her game

Radha said the WPL gave her a structured opportunity to work on specific gaps in her game — from power-hitting in the death overs to refining her pace variations with the ball. '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,' she said in an interview with JioStar.

She also highlighted the role of the Indian team management, noting that the freedom they offered was as important as technical input. '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 added.

A spinner's philosophy: discipline over complexity

Radha was clear-eyed about what her role demands, emphasising that spinners must resist the temptation to overcomplicate their craft. '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,' she said.

She also described learning as a non-negotiable part of her process, drawing from everyone in her environment — including opponents. 'Watching how they bowl, how they set their field, how they handle pressure — all of it helps,' she noted.

WPL as a bridge to international cricket

Radha pointed to the WPL as a transformative addition to the women's cricket pathway in India, filling a gap that once left players navigating a steep jump from domestic to international cricket with little preparation in between. '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,' she said.

Reflecting on her own early career, Radha acknowledged the contrast starkly. '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,' she observed.

Harmanpreet and Mandhana's role in shaping team culture

The left-arm spinner reserved particular praise for captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, crediting both for building a dressing-room environment where new entrants feel welcome and free to express themselves. '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,' Radha said.

She added that both senior players have consistently ensured that every debutant is given the space to find her footing. '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,' she concluded. This comes at a time when India's women's cricket programme is increasingly being seen as a model for talent development in the Asian context, with the WPL at its centre.