22 March - Hamilton - India player Rajeshwari Gayakwad post-match press conference
Reporter: Can you please tell us about today’s success? Was there any discussions after Saturday’s match that team will go with 3 spinners and you will include Poonam Yadav in Squad?
Rajeshwari: The surface was quiet good and helpful for spinners. We already played two matches on this strip so we planned accordingly. We also watched yesterday’s game. Wicket is very good especially for spinners that’s why we included one extra spinner in the squad.
Reporter: Could you please elaborate about Sneh Rana as well. She has been excellent since last 12 16 months. Playing for railway team, she has also been bowling well. Please comment upon these two.
Rajeshwari: Sneh Rana is very good bowler. Whenever she comes to bowl she gets wicket for team. She is very good all-rounder and we both have been playing for railways team. So, we know each other very well. This understanding matters a lot as it helps to build us partnership and we also bowl sometime one from each end. We have quiet good bonding.
Reporter: You have bowled very well throughout the tournament. You have been getting good spin, bounce and drift. Please tell us about your bowling as there were some discussions going on regarding spin department because in New Zealand series team was no getting enough wickets. How you worked on this as bowling has been improved in this world cup.
Rajeshwari: During New Zealand series, bowling could not perform well as due to Covid gap we were not mentally ready as we could not conduct proper practice sessions. After series we had discussions about spin department and worked on it and you can see it in our match performance.
Reporter: Today pitch was helping spinners. Irrespective of that we have seen you and Sneh Rana getting drift in New Zealand conditions can you please comment on it.
Rajeshwari: yeah we are getting drift in spin bowling. We also bowl these balls in India as well so plan is simple to hit the good areas which we are doing right now and wicket is providing assistance as well.
Reporter: Congrats Rajeshwari you have performed very well as a bowler in the tournament. You have been leading and a good spinner for Indian team. Sneh and vastakar are bowling well in the tournament. As a senior spin bowler what sort of positive changes you have seen in their bowling in recent times.
Rajeshwari: When she was playing for Indian team back 5 years ago, we even were not in railway team at that time. We did not know each other very well. When she joined railways team so we have been playing together till so far. She have made comeback for Indian team as well. As we are bowling here we used to do the same while playing for railway. Sneh Rana is very good spinner. It’s good to see her bowling as there are bright chances of getting wickets when she is bowling.
Reporter: You, Mithali and Smriti have been giving winning performances for Indian team for last many years. In this world cup, Vastika, Sneh and Pooja have also played key role in Indian victory. As a senior player how good you feel when these youngster perform well, although Sneh is not youngster but her international cricket carrier is very brief so far. How the environment of dressing room changes when these youngster perform well.
Rajeshwari: All youngsters in our team are performing well since last 2-3 series and as a senior player we feel very good to see these youngsters giving winning performances. It also boost up the team dressing room environment.
Reporter: Congrats to you as you have performed very well in this tournament? You had a knee surgery and any sort of injury haunts the players. So despite of that how did you prepare yourself for the world cup? Have you ever got worried about your injury while world cup preparation? Please comment on this
Rajeshwari: For every player to overcome the injury is quiet challenging. I also faced the same. It took while to overcome it. After Injury I could not play England series. It was not a happy feeling but I worked then on my Knee for rehabilitation. Several people helped me at that time. When I went for Australia series my confidence was very low that how things gonna be happened. Due to support of team and staff, I regained my confidence and my performance was noticeable.
Reporter: As you mentioned several people helped you to overcome the injury. Could you please mention few names? As you were mentally strong as well.
Rajeshwari: I was in NCA. Trainer, Physio helped me in rehab as well as making me mentally strong. Names include Niranjan sir, Ahsito sir and Vivksar etc. These people helped me a lot.
Reporter: your next match is against South Africa and its very important match. Let me recall for you the world cup 2017, you took 5 wickets in semifinal against New Zealand. Are you ready to do the same against South Africa with zeal and zest?
Rajeshwari: I have not given it a thought yet. We are going match by match and focusing on our performance in each match. As a team we will perform well and win the games. That’s what we have thought so far.
Reporter: Could you please share few memories from world cup 2017 semifinal match in which you got 5 wickets.
Rajeshwari: It was a special moment for me. Because I was out for at least six games and suddenly I was included in the squad. Actually I have not thought that I will be playing that match. When I entered the ground I was informed that I am in the squad. It was a special moment for me. I tried to hit good areas while bowling which I always try to do. My 5 wicket haul was very helpful for my team. It was a memorable match for me.
Thank you very much