In the cauldron of Edgbaston, with adrenaline running high and the home crowd in full voice, Radha Yadav pulled off a moment of magic that will be replayed for years to come. The 25-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder, already a lynchpin in India’s remarkable series win, produced a breathtaking catch in the final over to dismiss England’s Amy Jones, one that encapsulated the very spirit of this electric T20I series.
As the tension peaked in the 20th over of England’s run chase, Amy Jones, intent on finishing in style, swung fiercely at Arundhati Reddy’s delivery, sending the ball hurtling toward deep midwicket. What followed was nothing short of astonishing.
Radha Yadav, patrolling the boundary, read the trajectory in a heartbeat. Springing into action, she flung herself forward in a full-length dive, horizontal to the ground, arms outstretched, eyes locked on the ball. In one fluid motion, she clutched the ball a foot above the turf, her elbows crashing to the ground, but her grip unbroken. The Edgbaston crowd, momentarily silenced in awe, erupted as the replay confirmed: Radha had held on. Amy Jones, stunned, had to walk back, leaving England briefly wobbling.
This five-match T20I series between the reigning giants of women’s cricket, England and India, has been nothing short of historic. India, led by the ever-determined Harmanpreet Kaur, got off to a flying start, notching convincing wins in the first two matches. England, reeling from their setbacks and missing their regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt for the third T20I, rallied behind stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont to snatch a tight win and keep the series alive.
But the narrative belonged to India, who clinched a first-ever T20I series win on English soil with a six-wicket win in Manchester, thanks in large part to a match-winning spell from Radha Yadav, earning her a well-deserved Player of the Match award.
With the series decided, both sides shuffled their packs for the final game at Edgbaston. India blooded young pacer Kranti Goud, while England made three changes to freshen their line-up. What followed was the most thrilling game of the lot.
Put into bat, India stumbled early, losing Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues within the first three overs. But a gritty partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Shafali Verma (who blazed her way to 75 off just 41 deliveries) steadied the ship. India posted an imposing 167/7, the highest women’s T20I score at Edgbaston, thanks to handy contributions from Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, and Arundhati Reddy.
England’s response was just as dramatic. Openers Sophia Dunkley and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge surged to a 101-run stand, laying a robust platform. Radha struck again, bowling Dunkley to give India hope, and Deepti Sharma chipped away with crucial wickets. The hosts, however, showed steel; Beaumont’s 30 and Jones’s brief cameo edged them closer. It all came down to the final over, where Arundhati Reddy’s nerves and Radha Yadav’s moment of pure athletic brilliance nearly stole the game for India.
In the end, England squeezed through by five wickets, salvaging pride and ending the T20I series 3-2.
Across the series, Radha Yadav’s evolution from a reliable tweaker to a genuine match-winner stood out. Her 4-0-15-2 match-winning spell in the fourth T20I sealed the series, while her determined 14-run cameo and that electrifying catch in the final game underlined her value as a true all-rounder.
Moments like Radha’s airborne catch are more than just highlights; they’re the moments that inspire a new generation. As India prepares to take on England in the upcoming ODIs, Radha Yadav’s heroics have set the tone: fearless, athletic, and brimming with belief.
