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Who is Uma Chetry? The 23-year-old who replaced Richa Ghosh to debut for India

Soumyajit Dutta

Smriti Mandhana handing the debut cap to Uma Chetry [Source: @BCCIWomen/X.com]Smriti Mandhana handing the debut cap to Uma Chetry [Source: @BCCIWomen/X.com]

The India Women vs Bangladesh Women, Women's World Cup match is about to get underway. However, the big news of the day is the debut of young cricketer Uma Chetry, as she is earning her maiden ODI cap today. 

Notably, only five Indian players turned up for the practice session ahead of a match that holds very little significance for the Women in Blue. However, it also provides the new debutant a chance to prove her worth in the India Women’s setup. 

Uma, who entered the tournament as a reserve wicketkeeper, looked in fine touch while practising in the nets. She was handed to her by opener and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana in a small ceremony on the ground before the players went straight back into the dugout due to a downpour in Navi Mumbai.

Assam's daughter ready to rise in the national setup

The 23-year-old Assam-born wicketkeeper-batter earned her first national call-up back in September while playing warm-up fixtures for the team, where she shone with scores of 45 and 38. 

However, her T20I numbers are underwhelming. She scored only 37 runs with an average of 9.25 from her 7 WT20I outings. Nevertheless, she has been a mainstay for UP Warriorz. She played a total of eight matches in WPL 2024-25, scoring 72 runs at an average of 14.40.

Notably, Chetry is also the second-highest run-getter in the Domestic T20 Challenger Trophy, where she scored her only century, and the only hundred in the competition, with a knock of 122 runs off 71 balls. 

Uma was also part of India’s gold medal-winning team at the 2022 Asian Games. She represented India A Women in the 2023 ACC Women’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where she was part of the trophy-winning India E team.

Uma's place in the current India Women setup

Uma has a lot to prove since she is filling in the shoes of Richa Ghosh, who is also a very talented wicketkeeper and, most of all, a powerful batter. Chetry stepping in for Richa could be an anchor for the team in case of a top-order collapse. 

Though her T20I numbers have been underwhelming, with her stepping into a brand-new format for the team and given her century-hitting abilities, the team will be keeping an eye on her performance in this dead rubber, which could be a stepping stone for the young player.