CWG 2022: It Is Exciting To Participate At This Event – Radha Yadav

India women’s team spinner Radha Yadav is excited to be part of the Commonwealth Games event in Birmingham.

Women’s cricket will feature at the Commonwealth Games for the first time in the upcoming CWG 2022. It would be the second instance of cricket being held at this stage after the men’s ODI competition was staged back in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. South Africa won the only edition of the Commonwealth Games in men’s cricket.

India have been put together with Australia, Pakistan and Barbados in Group A for the initial stage of the tournament.

I used to feel left out: Radha Yadav

Radha, who has played 43 T20I matches for India, admitted that she used to feel sidelined after watching Olympic sports on television, but now that they are participating in a multi-sport event the feeling is other way.

“I am very excited. I have been watching CWG since I was a child. To participate at the event as a cricketing group is exciting. ‘Been watching CWG since my childhood and getting to play in it is a real honour,” Radha said after the team’s training session at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

”I used to feel left out, especially in the Olympics. It is a different feeling when the national anthem is playing,” the 22-year-old further said.

Our mindset will be simple whether we play Pakistan or Australia: Radha Yadav

Indian women’s team will play the tournament opener against rivals Australia on July 29 at Edgbaston. The Indian team has had its own rivalry against the heavyweights, the 2020 T20 World Cup final was one such example where India lost the final to the eventual champions.

Australia has dominated in their head-to-head records with 16 wins to India’s six against their rivals.

However, despite Australia’s supremacy in women’s world cricket, Radha feels that no team will be the favourite and they will treat all their opponents in the same manner.

‘‘In T20s, all teams are good. You can’t say there is only a good team in this format,” Radha said.

“As a cricketer, we want to improve every day. We need to set a standard and we need to work hard every day. Our mindset will be simple whether we (play) Pakistan or Australia,” she added.

India suffered twin blows ahead of the CWG 2022 as batter Sabbhineni Meghana and all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar tested positive for Covid-19. Both the players stayed back in India while the rest of the Indian contingent flew to Birmingham on Monday morning.

Recently it was confirmed that Meghana will travel to the UK and will join the squad ahead of the tournament opener against Australia on Friday.

Also Read: Pooja Vastrakar Still In Quarantine, S Meghana To Join India Squad In UK