Radha Yadav is an Indian cricketer (bowler). She is the first woman from Gujarat to play in the Indian women’s cricket team. As of 2022, she has secured 4 Division One matches, 13 A-grade matches and 16 Women’s Twenty20 matches.
Wiki/Biography
Radha Prakash Yadav, popularly known as Radha Yadav, was born on Friday, April 21, 2000 in Mumbai, Maharashtra (age 23 ;as of 2023). She was born prematurely in her seventh month. Radha’s zodiac sign is Taurus. Her family originates from the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh. She attended primary school at Anandibai Damodar Kale Vidyalaya in Borivali, Mumbai. Radha is an ordinary student who has been good at sports since childhood. She used to play cricket and badminton with her colonial friends. Apart from this, Yadav also plays Kabaddi and Koko in schools. One weekend, while Radha was playing gully cricket with the boys in the society compound, she caught the attention of Praful Naik (cricket coach), who noticed her talent and asked her Start playing the season ball. Radha was 12 years old at the time. Later, Praful sought permission from Radha’s father to train her in cricket. Speaking about this in an interview, Lada said:
He asked my father for permission and my father agreed. Praful sir started training me in Mumbai. At that time, we only had 3-4 girls attending practice. “
Furthermore, talking about her training sessions, Yadav said:
Initially, I would use other players’ gear. I got mine only when my coach was convinced that I could play hard-ball cricket. “
She learned the nuances of cricket under the guidance of Praful at the Shiv Seva Stadium in Borivli. In 2013, Praful transferred Radha from Anandibai Damodar Kale Vidyalaya to Our Lady of Remedy High School in Kandivali West, Mumbai, as her previous school did not have its own cricket team. At Our Lady of Remedy, she started playing for the school cricket team and performed well in the DSO (School Level Championship). In 2015, her cricket coach Praful Naik decided to shift to Vadodara permanently; Radha followed her coach and also moved to the city. She was 15 years old at the time. In Vadodara, she studied at Vidya Kunj School where she completed her education.
Radha Yadav in practice
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′6″
Hair color: brown
Eye color: brown
family
Radha Yadav comes from a lower-middle-class family.
Parents and siblings
Radha’s father Omprakash Yadav owns a makeshift stall in Mumbai. The stall, located on a sidewalk outside Mumbai’s Kandivli slum, sells everything from masala to bread, cigarettes to vegetables. Her mother is a housewife. She has two brothers and a sister. Radha is the youngest among them. Her brother Deepak helps his father in his stall. Deepak is married and has two children. Her other brother Rahul works as a security guard for a multinational company in Mumbai. Her sister’s name is Soni Yadav. Radha had said that Soni used to play cricket better than her but she could not take it up as a career due to family issues.
Radha Yadav’s parents
Radha Yadav’s family
Profession
domestic cricket
Radha Yadav made her domestic cricket debut on January 10, 2015, for the Mumbai women’s cricket team against Kerala. She played for Mumbai for over a year and later started playing for the Baroda women’s cricket team.
Radha Yadav and her team Baroda
Based on her performance in T20 cricket for Baroda, she was included in India’s squad for the 2018 Women’s T20 International series against South Africa; Yadav scored 9 in 6 T20 matches for Baroda wickets and scored 32 runs (not out). Rada recalled the emotional moment during the interview, saying:
I always wanted to achieve something in cricket. I always support myself. My only wish was to wear the India jersey and sing the national anthem. So when this happened, I couldn’t control my tears. “
In 2019, she represented the IPL Supernovas team in the Women’s T20 Challenge. Her team won the game.
Radha Yadav and her IPL team after winning Women’s T20 Challenge 2019
On November 9, 2020, she represented IPL Supernovas in the 2020 Women’s T20 Challenge final against Trail Blazers; she took 5 wickets in the match, becoming the first Women’s T20 Challenge player to do so of T20 players.
Radha Yadav represents Supernova in Women’s T20 Challenge 2020
She also plays for the Sydney Sixers, one of two teams in Sydney competing in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). She played multiple games in the WBBL for the Sydney Sixers in 2021 and 2022.
Radha Yadav plays for the Sydney Sixers against the Melbourne Renegades in a WBBL match at Lilac Hill Park in Perth
In 2022, Yadav will represent IPL Velocity in the Women’s T20 Challenge.
Radha Yadav represents IPL Velocity in Women’s T20 Challenge
She also played for West End.
international cricket
Radha Yadav made her Women’s Twenty20 international cricket debut on February 13, 2018, for the Indian team against South Africa Women. She ended the game with a score of 0-21. She then represented the Indian women’s cricket team in the 2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Championship in the West Indies. She is the leading wicket-taker for India in this tournament along with Poonam Yadav. The two took 8 wickets each.
Radha Yadav plays for India
In January 2020, she participated in the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia with the Indian team. She made her Women’s One-Day International (WODI) debut for India on March 14, 2021, against South Africa.
Radha Yadav in cricket
She was selected in the Indian Test squad for one match against the England women’s cricket team in May 2021. She also represented Team India in Group ‘A’ matches.
Radha Yadav takes big strides in one game
WPL
In February 2023, Delhi Capitals bought her for Rs 40 lakh in the first WPL auction.
Favorites
- Movies: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), Bajirao Mastani (2015)
- Meeting place: Marine Drive, Mumbai
Facts/Trivia
- In her free time, Radha Yadav enjoys watching movies, dancing and traveling.
- She loves bicycles and riding them.
Radha Yadav riding a bike
- Her batting style is right-handed with the bat and her bowling style is slow left-arm orthodox.
- Her jersey number in international cricket is No. 21.
- Although Radha loves chocolate and ice cream, she avoids eating them to stay healthy.
- Yadav’s father has always supported his daughter’s cricket career. His only worries are buying equipment and paying coaching fees, as there is no regular income from his makeshift stall. Speaking about this in a media talk, Omprakash Yadav said:
I never had any problem with Radha playing cricket, but my concern was paying the fees. When Sir (Naik) said he would take care of all the expenses, I didn’t think much of it. “
- Radha said in an interview that although her father tried his best to keep her away from fear and difficulties, she was not immune to the problems faced by her family. She gave a glimpse into the hardships her father went through on a daily basis, saying:
I ask my father every day if he has any problems with BMC. His reaction was always positive. He made sure my cricket wasn’t affected by all these issues, but I know he was under a lot of pressure. He wakes up at 4 a.m. to stock the store, and every night he takes items home.
Radha Yadav’s father at his makeshift shop on the pavement of Kandivli West in Mumbai
- In a media interview, Yadav revealed that she had never watched a cricket match on television before the 2011 Cricket World Cup. She also said that she never knew that women could compete internationally and she had never heard of Mithali Raj or Jhulan Goswami before she started playing the sport. She revealed her ignorance about the sport,
I thought I would play with boys but then realized that was not possible. “
- Radha follows a non-vegetarian diet.
- Her friends and family affectionately call her “Radhay”.
- Radha follows a strict exercise regimen to stay fit.
Radha Yadav in the gym
- She owns a Honda City.
Radha Yadav poses with her car
- Yadav is managed by Baseline Ventures, a strategic sports marketing and talent management firm.
- In 2016, Radha won the 10km championship in the Vadodara International Marathon Relay.
Radha Yadav wins Vadodara International Marathon relay title
- Radha spoke about her initial cricketing days in an interview and said:
I play tennis cricket regularly and enjoy playing tennis cricket. Tennis cricket helps me a lot in my defence. Initially I started with fast bowling but my teacher told me to try spin bowling. I preferred batting to bowling and still do. “
- Interestingly, Radha was selected for the India under-19 women’s cricket team, however, she was unable to play any under-19 matches due to contracting dengue fever. By the time Radha recovered from her illness, she had crossed the age limit. She was later selected to play for the Mumbai senior team.
- In an interview, when asked about her family’s reaction to her inclusion in the Indian team, she replied:
It’s so surreal. Dad shed tears of joy and Mom hugged me happily. You can’t explain that feeling in words. I started playing season cricket at the age of 12 and playing for India in just 5 years was a dream.
- In an interview, when she was asked about the most memorable moment in her cricket career, Yadav replied:
My debut for India A against Bangladesh women’s team last year was very special, I bowled 4 balls and scored only 4 runs and took 2 wickets. “
- Radha has a strong connection with Indian all-rounder Jemima Rodriguez. Radha said of Jemima in an interview,
I remember playing against Jemima many times during my school days. We were rivals then, but now we are very good friends. She played for St Joseph’s and I played for Our Lady of Borivali Remedial High School. “
- Radha lives with her family in a 225 sq ft house in Kandivli slum society. Her house is not far from MCA Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana. It houses nine members of her family, including her father, mother, brother and his wife and two children, another brother and a sister.
- Radha attributes her success to her coach Praful Naik.
- Speaking about Radha in an interview, her coach Praful said:
What sets Radha apart from others is her courage and positive attitude towards everything. She gave 100% effort on the court. Apart from her bowling, I first noticed her extraordinary fielding skills. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education