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Gujarat Giants suffer major setback as Yastika Bhatia officially ruled out of WPL 2026 due to injury

Kaushik Kashyap

Yastika Bhatia ruled out of WPL 2026. [Source - @mipaltan/x]Yastika Bhatia ruled out of WPL 2026. [Source - @mipaltan/x]

In a significant development, Yastika Bhatia has been officially ruled out of the WPL 2026, delivering a setback to Gujarat Giants despite their strong start to the season. The franchise confirmed her absence on January 10, ending weeks of uncertainty around her availability.

The wicketkeeper-batter is continuing her recovery from an ACL surgery she underwent in October last year. While she will not be able to feature on the field this season, Bhatia has joined the Giants squad in Navi Mumbai and has been supporting the team from the stands.

Yastika Bhatia ruled out of WPL 2026; no replacement will be allowed

Notably, Yastika Bhatia’s participation was doubtful following her surgery as reported by Cricbuzz, and the official confirmation now rules her out completely. Gujarat Giants’ head coach Michael Klinger wished her well, expressing optimism about her returning stronger next season.

As for whether Gujarat Giants will be allowed to sign a replacement, the BCCI had already informed franchises of Yastika Bhatia’s unavailability ahead of the WPL 2026 auction. Consequently, Gujarat Giants will not be permitted to name a replacement player, despite having invested INR 50 lakh to secure her services.

Bhatia’s absence adds to a growing list of Indian players sidelined this season. UP Warriorz’s Pratika Rawal also carried fitness concerns but still found a bidder. Meanwhile, RCB’s Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out for at least two weeks due to a hamstring injury.

Flying high despite setback, Gujarat Giants target historic win over Mumbai Indians

Despite the setback, Gujarat Giants are flying high at the start of the WPL 2026 as they have won their first two matches, including a dramatic last-over win against Delhi Capitals, powered by Sophie Devine’s all-round brilliance.

Sitting atop the table, the Giants now face Mumbai Indians next and will be aiming to secure their first-ever win over the defending champions in WPL history. With confidence high after back-to-back victories, the upcoming clash presents a strong opportunity to add another feather to their impressive start to the season.