‘Really special’ – Yastika flourishes after her long road back – Yastika Bhatia Shines on Return as India Beats England in T20I Opener

Yastika Bhatia Makes a Stunning Return to International Cricket

Rehabilitating after knee surgery, Yastika Bhatia felt like she was starting from scratch. But, in scoring a maiden T20I fifty to help India to a convincing first-up win over England, she batted as though she had been in the top order forever.

There was no sign that this was her first international match since October 2024 and first T20I in more than two years, just signs of the good form she had shown in practice, which batting partner Jemimah Rodrigues reminded her about at the crease when she told her: ‘let’s build a partnership’.

Partnership Between Yastika and Jemimah

They needed to, with their side 7 for 2 after Lauren Bell’s double-strike to remove Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in the first over of the match. They needed to with no Harmanpreet Kaur in the line-up as she was rested for the first of three games which will close India’s competitive preparations for next month’s T20 World Cup.

And they did with a third-wicket stand worth 126 from 76 balls to lead a 38-run victory at Chelmsford, Rodrigues scoring 69 off 40 and Yastika 54 facing the same number of deliveries.

Yastika’s Road to Recovery

Rodrigues’ fluent innings we have come to expect. With Yastika we didn’t know what to expect given her long absence after injuring her knee during a training camp and undergoing surgery last October which ruled her out of the 50-over World Cup and this year’s WPL.

‘It felt really special and I’m very grateful,’ Yastika said of her innings on Thursday. ‘I’ve been coming back after a long time and the team has welcomed me very nicely and it has been very good to be back.

In the injury time, it’s not easy, but there were people backing me. I’m very grateful to all of the people who were behind me at that time and behind the scenes, a lot of work has gone on to come back again into the team.

India’s Depth and Nandani Sharma’s Debut

India were 73 for 2 after the powerplay and looked to be on track for a massive score thanks to Rodrigues and Yastika. But once they both fell in the 14th over – Yastika run out taking a risky single and Rodrigues caught and bowled by Charlie Dean – England managed to contain the target quite well as only Deepti Sharma reached double figures thereafter.

Their ability to post an above-par score in those circumstances and without Harmanpreet speaks to India’s depth with just a fortnight to go until the T20 World Cup starts, as does the international debut of fast bowler Nandani Sharma, who claimed 3 for 34, including two wickets in as many balls.

Nandani, 24, was the joint-leading wicket-taker at this years’ WPL alongside Sophie Devine with 17 for Delhi Capitals at a slightly higher average of 18.58 and economy rate of 8.31. Her best figures were 5 for 33, including a hat-trick, against Gujarat Giants in just her second game in the competition.

‘Nandani, I think she bowled beautifully,’ Yastika said. ‘She came back well with her slower ones and that is her strength and she bowled beautifully to her strength and got those wickets, and in a debut game it’s exceptional.

Nandani is a product of the WPL and she has done brilliantly, so it’s good to see that she’s come here and done so well. We all also felt emotional seeing her debut and when she got the cap, she was emotional, so it’s very good to see that she came out well today. It’s exciting times for Indian cricket that whoever is coming in in the XI is making their statement and making their contribution.

Looking Ahead to the Next Match

India expect to have Harmanpreet back for the second match in Bristol on Saturday, a must-win game for England if they are to keep the series alive.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge will be available for selection to bolster the batting after a break to welcome her first child. Maia Bouchier, who is not part of the World Cup squad, made way for Jones to get some valuable time at the crease ahead of the tournament and she capitalised.

Dean, acting England captain while Nat Sciver-Brunt races to be fit from injury in time for the World Cup, said: ‘We wanted to give a bit of time to those girls who are going to bat for us in that middle top order in the World Cup.

Not having a Nat in our batting line-up and in our team is a loss and just trying to work out where the other girls fit into that. They can all do the job at hand and that is something that we 100 percent believe, but it’s just making sure we give the right people those opportunities.