Canberra, February 18 Pacer Arundhati Reddy's four-wicket haul in India's victory in the first women's T20I against Australia was a testament to her preparation, said bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi here on Wednesday.
Arundhati took 4/22 to help India bowl out Australia for a mere 133 and win the match by 21 runs using the DLS method in Sydney, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
"Arundhati is a very hard-working girl. She comes prepared for any tournament she participates in," Salvi told reporters on the eve of the second T20I here.
"To take those four wickets in such an important game was a pleasing moment for all of us, because we know how hard she works.
"(In) the World Cup, she didn't get a chance to play, but she was still preparing herself during the WPL. She got an opportunity, and then when she came to Australia, she started from where she left in the previous Australia series, when she took four wickets at Perth," said Salvi, recalling Arundhati's 4/26 at the WACA in the third ODI in December 2024.
Australia were comfortably placed at 68/2 when Arundhati was introduced in the eighth over. She dismissed Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, and Darcie Brown, leaving the hosts with an under-par total.
"She executed the plans perfectly. She was very confident about what she wanted to achieve in the game. When she came to bowl, the run rate was a bit high.
"She executed her plans so well, and when she took four for 22, I was very happy for her," Salvi added.
Salvi said that preparing well for the tour helped India get off to a winning start.
"That win in Sydney will be a confidence booster for the entire team, because we came early and prepared for the tour. There was preparation at North Sydney. We played a practice game against the Governor General, and then we got the opportunity to play the first T20I," he said.
"... You come to Australia, have your practice sessions under your belt, and then you get an opportunity to play against a competitive team.
"That gives us a chance to explore and experience, and to execute the plans we wanted to execute in the main game," Salvi added.
