Ahead of the mega ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 final clash with Australia, the star leg-spinner Poonam Yadav has revealed how India captain Harmanpreet Kaur's rebuke has put fuel into her and that really has worked for her in the ongoing showpiece event so far.
The experienced bowler further revealed that she was upbraided by Kaur after she was hit by Australia's Alyssa Healy for a brilliant six off her only fourth delivery in the tournament opener.
She later finished up with a four-wicket haul against defending champions Australia in the T20 World Cup 2020 opening match.
However, after a brief discussion between the two helped the spinner to dismiss Healy on the next ball and since then, Poonam hasn't looked back and dominated the tournament.
The 28-year-old spinner further went on to credit her captain Kaur for her devastating form with the ball in the T20 World Cup 2020, taking 9 wickets so far to help India to reach the final.
Poonam said: “Harmanpreet has been of immense support. When I got hit for a six in the first over, she came to me and said, 'Poonam, you're one of the most experienced players in the team, and we expect better of you.' So, that kind of stirred something within me. I told myself if my captain has that much faith in me, I should be able to make a comeback.”
She added, “I took a wicket in the very next ball and didn't look back since. Now when I look back at that moment, it means so much in the context of my individual performance and runs to the final.”
Meanwhile, the spinner has also revealed how she prepared for the World Cup 2020, adding: “I worked quite hard knowing the quality of competition in the World Cup.”
She signed off by saying, “So, I would watch a lot of videos of the Australian and the England teams and tried to find out their weaknesses. My preparation that way was good, so despite the pressure, the nerves I was able to do well.”
(With IANS Inputs)
