Poonam Yadav

One of the most successful T20I bowlers for India, Poonam Yadav has made a name for herself in the shortest format of the game. A classical right-arm leg-break bowler, Yadav made her India debut in 2013 and since then has not looked back.

Born in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav has played for multiple teams in the domestic circuit and eventually got a chance to represent India in a T20I game against Bangladesh in 2013. She was amongst the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 wickets at crucial junctures to propel India to victory.

She played her only Test match in 2014 against South Africa, and took 3 wickets in the match, and was impressive with her tossed up deliveries through the air.

Yadav was included in the 2017 Women’s World Cup squad, and she made a mark in a group stage match against Sri Lanka. The talented spinner bagged two wickets and gave away just 23 runs as Sri Lanka struggled to read her. 

She was also the pick of the bowlers in the final against England, but eventually India faltered and lost the match by 9 runs. 

The following year, Yadav entered into the top 5 of the women’s T20I ranking and ahead of the 2018 T20I World Cup was named as one of the players to watch out for.

Yadav was at her menacing best in the tournament, and was the joint leading wicket-taker for India, with eight dismissals in five games. In the same year she became the highest wicket-taker for India in the shortest format of the game.

Yadav was drafted in the 2020 Women’s World T20I squad, and her best performance came in the opening match against Australia, picking up four for 19 to rattle the Aussies.

Abundance of courage and temperament defines Poonam Yadav the best. A classical leg spinner who believes in tossing the ball and inviting the batters forward, Yadav has quickly risen as not only India’s best spinner, but certainly the best spinner in world cricket at the moment.

(As of Mar 21)