Yastika Bhatia ruled out of Womens ODI World Cup 2025, India announce replacement
Yastika Bhatia has been ruled out of India's squad for the upcoming ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025. She has been replaced by Uma Chetry.
In a big blow for Team India, batter Yastika Bhatia has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Australia and the Women's ODI World Cup 2025. India are set to co-host the Women's World Cup alongside Sri Lanka. The showpiece event will get underway on September 30, with India taking on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener.
Wicket-keeper batter Yastika injured her left knee during India's preparatory camp in Vizag and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team. India have named Assam batter Uma Chetry as a replacement for Yastika, whose absence will be a huge miss for India in the tournament.
Yastika was in fine form as she notched up back-to-back half-centuries for India A in their recently concluded series against Australia A. She slammed a 59-run knock in the first unofficial ODI against Australia A in Brisbane and followed it up with a brilliant 66 in the next game. She finished the series with 42 runs in the final third unofficial ODI.
Yastika, who bats mostly in the top four, has so far played 28 ODIs for India and has 666 runs to her name at an average of 24.66 and a strike rate of 73.02, including four fifties. She will be replaced by Chetry, who is yet to make her ODI debut for India. Chetry has played 7 T20Is for India and has 37 runs to her name.
The Assam batter, who plays for UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League (WPL), made his India debut in the T20I series against South Africa in Chennai last year. Chetry might make her ODI debut in the upcoming series against Australia. India will take on Australia in a three-match ODI series from September 14 to 17.
Shafali Verma ignored again
Swashbuckling opening batter Shafali Verma was ignored again as selectors named Chetry as a replacement for injured Yastika. Shafali last played an ODI for India against New Zealand in October last year. She is not part of India's squad for the World Cup and has also not been named in the reserves for the tournament.