Yastika Bhatia’s Injury Opens Doors for Uma Chetry

India’s wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has been sidelined from the upcoming ODI series in Australia due to a wrist injury sustained during her WBBL campaign. In her absence, the team has brought in Uma Chetry, who is yet to debut in ODIs but has shown promise in her short international career.

Chetry, who debuted in T20Is against South Africa in July, has played four matches in the format so far. Her recent performances in the domestic T20 Challenger Trophy were remarkable—she scored 231 runs at an impressive strike rate of 154.00, including the tournament’s only century, a brilliant 122 off 71 balls. Although her tour with India A in Australia earlier this year yielded modest results, it has given her valuable exposure to Australian conditions.

Bhatia, meanwhile, had a productive run with the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL, amassing 154 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 104.76, even though she missed the last three games. Despite her contributions, the Stars struggled, finishing at the bottom of the table with just two wins in ten matches. Prior to the WBBL, Bhatia had featured in India’s home ODI series against New Zealand, where she scored 84 runs across three innings. Although she was included in India’s T20 World Cup squad, she did not get an opportunity to play.

India’s ODI series in Australia begins on December 5, with the first two matches scheduled at Brisbane's Allan Border Field, followed by the final game at Perth’s WACA Ground on December 11.

India Women’s Squad for Australia ODIs

• Harmanpreet Kaur (captain)
• Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain)
• Priya Punia
• Jemimah Rodrigues
• Harleen Deol
• Richa Ghosh (wk)
• Tejal Hasabnis
• Deepti Sharma
• Minnu Mani
• Priya Mishra
• Radha Yadav
• Titas Sadhu
• Arundhati Reddy
• Renuka Singh
• Saima Thakor
• Uma Chetry (wk)

With Uma Chetry’s addition, India’s lineup looks to adapt and compete as they take on Australia in this much-anticipated series.