Poonam Yadav becomes eighth Indian player to secure WBBL deal

Brisbane Heat have acquired the services of Indian legspinner Poonam Yadav for the forthcoming edition of the Women’s Big Bash League. The 30-year-old has been brought in as Amelia Kerr’s replacement after the New Zealand all-rounder made herself unavailable for the entire season. 

The legspinner becomes the eighth Indian player to bag a WBBL contract, joining Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav (both Sixers), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma (both Thunder), Richa Ghosh (Hurricanes), Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur (both Renegades). All these players are currently in Australia for the multi-format series.

🇮🇳 Introducing world class leggie, Poonam Yadav! 🇮🇳

👌 https://t.co/CLaZOqi3Y6#BringtheHEAT #WBBL07 pic.twitter.com/pHn1ANCSHl

— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) October 8, 2021

"When we lost Amelia Kerr, we were confident we could back our group to give a good account of themselves regardless but adding Poonam’s skill and her competitiveness is a huge result," Heat coach Ashley Noffke said.

"She is a different type of bowler to Melie, and we are clear on how we can best utilise her talents in our line-up. Jess Jonassen has played against her and as captain, she is very keen to work alongside her now she is with the Heat."

Poonam becomes the third overseas player for Brisbane, joining South Africans Anneke Bosch and Nadine de Klerk. Her signing is the final international spot in the franchise-based league to be confirmed.

Poonam has scalped 98 wickets in 71 T20Is at an average of 14.90 and an economy of just 5.7. Brisbane will start their WBBL 2020/21 campaign against Perth Scorchers on October 17 in Hobart.