Senior India bowler Poonam Yadav on Tuesday admitted that the spin department hasn’t been up to the mark in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. She added that the home team slow bowlers are working on bringing changes to their game moving ahead.
The Indian women’s team, known for its strong spin attack, was a let-down in the five-match series that South Africa won 3-1. Apart from Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who scalped five wickets in four matches, the other spinners failed to perform as per expectations.
“We beat South Africa in South Africa and also when they came here. But our spin attack hasn’t been that successful now,” Poonam Yadav said during a virtual pre-match press conference ahead of the fifth ODI on Wednesday.
“So, we talk about what we can work on in the practice sessions. We discuss that if the wicket isn’t assisting then next what? When the wicket isn’t helping what changes can we make, we are focussing on that,” she added.
Poonam is rather hopeful that the side would put on a better show in the three-match T20I series which would start on Saturday.
“In T20s we will try to do better. Maybe we aren’t able to implement our plans in ODIs. But we are working on it and will improve in the matches ahead.”
The leg-spinner has been unable to pick a single wicket in the four matches off the five-match series she’s played so far.
“Being a senior player, the role I have in the team I haven’t been able to fulfil in these matches but going ahead I will try and perform as per the needs of the team. Because in T20 you can’t go in for wickets you go to contain (the batter),” she said.
The 29-year-old told that she had worked on adding variations in her bowling during the COVID-19 enforced break but would need few matches to perfect it. “I have added variations. I have added the flipper, tried it in the match, but we are playing after a long time due to COVID-19,” she said.
“Maybe it will take a little more time for us to settle down. I need to work more on the flipper,” she added.
Captain Mithali Raj has often turned to deputy Harmanpreet Kaur for bowling in the series and Poonam Yadav reckons that the T20 captain can help the team if she bowls in the shortest format as well.
“We talk a little, she asks how her ball was because being on the field only a bowler can help the other. She has been working on her bowling and has done well. If she bowls in T20s it will help our team.”
