Yastika Bhatia Ruled Out of Australia ODIs; Uma Chetry Gets a Maiden ODI Call-Up

1st ODI: December 5, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
2nd ODI: December 8, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
3rd ODI: December 11, WACA Ground, Perth

The Indian women’s cricket team faces a critical lineup change ahead of the ODI series in Australia, with wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia sidelined due to a wrist injury sustained during the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Rising star Uma Chetry has been drafted in as her replacement, marking her first call-up for the 50-over format.

Yastika Bhatia’s Recent Form

Bhatia, who had been in solid form during her WBBL stint with the Melbourne Stars, scored 154 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 104.76. Despite her contributions, the Stars finished at the bottom of the table. Prior to the WBBL, she represented India in the home ODI series against New Zealand, tallying 84 runs across three innings. Although she was included in the T20 World Cup squad, she didn’t feature in any matches.

Uma Chetry: A Rising Talent

Uma Chetry’s inclusion brings fresh promise to the Indian setup. The uncapped wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs has previously played four T20Is, making her debut against South Africa in July. Chetry’s recent domestic performances have been nothing short of exceptional. In the T20 Challenger Trophy earlier this month, she scored 231 runs at a blistering strike rate of 154.00, finishing as the second-highest run-getter. Her standout performance came in the form of a 122-run knock off 71 balls, the only century in the tournament.

Chetry also toured Australia earlier this year with the India A side. While her returns in that series were modest, the experience of playing in Australian conditions could serve her well in the upcoming ODI series.

India Women’s Squad for Australia ODIs

India has retained a strong squad, with experienced players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma leading the charge. Key inclusions such as Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh add firepower to the batting lineup.

Full Squad: