The Women’s Selection Committee has named 23-year-old wicket-keeper batter Uma Chetry as the replacement for the injured Yastika Bhatia in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia (14th–20th September) and the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup from 30th September 2025 to 2nd November 2025.
Yastika, one of India’s most reliable wicket-keeper batters in recent years, sustained a left knee injury during the preparatory camp in Vizag. While the extent of the injury is being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team, her absence is undoubtedly a setback for India’s top order. The team has extended well wishes for her swift recovery.
For Uma Chetry, this call-up marks a significant career milestone. The Assam-born cricketer, who has been steadily making her mark in the domestic circuit and India A, now finds herself thrust into the senior side at a crucial juncture.
Chetry’s wicket-keeping skills and attacking stroke play have long caught the eye of selectors. Though still relatively new to the international stage, her composure under pressure and ability to anchor innings in middle-order situations will provide India with a viable backup to Richa Ghosh, the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper.
With India not only hosting a formidable Australian side in the ODI series but also preparing for the high-profile World Cup later this month, Chetry’s inclusion adds both depth and youthful energy to the squad.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana now have the challenge of managing a slightly reshuffled batting order. While Richa Ghosh is likely to take the primary gloves, Uma Chetry provides a strategic cushion, allowing the team management to explore combinations that balance batting stability with wicket-keeping efficiency.
This also means India will look to maximise the contributions of its all-round base, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Amanjot Kaur (for the World Cup), to maintain flexibility in middle overs, especially against Australia’s aggressive bowling attack.
Updated Squads:
India’s ODI Squad vs Australia (14–20 Sept):
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Uma Chetry (WK).
Standby Players: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra
India’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Uma Chetry (WK)
Standby Players: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani, Sayali Satghare
India A:
Minnu Mani (C), Dhara Gujjar, Shafali Verma, Tejal Hasabnis, Vrinda Dinesh, Nandini Kashyap (WK), Tanushree Sarkar, Tanuja Kanwer, Titas Sadhu, Sayali Satghare, Saima Thakor, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, and Raghvi Bist
While Yastika Bhatia’s absence creates a void in India’s batting depth, the situation also opens a door for Uma Chetry to make a powerful statement on the international stage. With both the Australia series and the World Cup on home soil, the next few weeks could well shape the trajectory of her budding career.
