Upcoming Talented player for Indian women team

 

Yastika's versatility was amply on display across the three ODIs of her debut series where she went from steadying the ship alongside Mithali Raj with a 51 ball 53in Game 1 to taking point in India's highest ODI chase in Game 3, with her maiden international fifty - a fluent 69-ball 64 that helped snap Australia's world-record winning streak of 26 matches. Back home, she devoured the Chhattisgarh bowling attack for breakfast on her 21st birthday, hitting a magnificent 107 off 91 deliveries at one-down in the Senior One-Day Trophy, before top-scoring with a tally of 199 - two fifties included - for champions India A in the Senior Women's One Day Challengers Trophy 2021-22, in Mulapadu.

Her inclusion in the World Cup starting XI seemed a no-brainer on the evidence of her confident runs in India's 4-1 drubbing at the hands of hosts New Zealand in the lead-up. Except, she was inexplicably left out. Once again.

A challenge disguised as an opportunity presented itself soon after the first game with Verma's continued failure at the top, and Yastika revelled in it with a 21-ball cameo of 31 that fellow opener Smriti Mandhana made a point to acknowledge in India's big win over West Indies. Even though not earmarked as a back-up opener in the side, the 21-year-old seamlessly slipped into her natural role and showcased her range as well as maturity going from a middle-order accumulator to an aggressor up top and back, all in the space of five games. Albeit in a losing cause, a gritty 59 in a record partnership against Australia's revered bowling attack has all but assured her of the spot in XI for whatever is left of India's World Cup campaign, and maybe even beyond.

'Hardwork puts you where good luck can find you!' reads her current Twitter bio. Through her perseverance and single-minded focus, Yastika has rammed her point home. Now, perhaps, is the time to change it. Because, Yastika Bhatia is whatever the team needs her to be.