India spinner Radha Yadav has said that representing the country remains the highest honour in cricket and that winning the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is the dream that continues to motivate her as she prepares for her fifth appearance at the tournament.
Radha has returned to the Indian squad after missing the series against Australia and South Africa. Reflecting on her comeback, the left-arm spinner said she was filled with gratitude when she learned of her selection.
“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,” Radha said in a video released by the BCCI on social media.
With the Women’s T20 World Cup set to begin in England, Radha said lifting the trophy remains her ultimate objective. “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.
The 25-year-old earned her recall on the back of strong performances in domestic cricket, India A assignments and the Women’s Premier League. She said returning to the national side felt particularly rewarding because of the hard work she put in during her time away from the team.
“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.
Radha also spoke about the mental challenges she faced during that period and how learning to handle pressure became an important part of her growth.
“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 friends for helping her navigate the difficult phase and regain her confidence.
“I had to figure out how to fight that battle in my mind. You can’t do anything alone. My friends helped me a lot and taught me how to bring calmness into my life. 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.
Looking ahead to the tournament, Radha stressed that success would depend on every member of the squad contributing in whatever role they are given.
“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.
India are still chasing their first Women’s T20 World Cup title and will begin their 2026 campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 14.