Sushma Verma, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, has joined Trinbago Knight Riders to replace Yastika Bhatia ahead of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League 2026 knockouts. This development occurs as Yastika steps away from the 2022 champions ahead of the 2026 final, preparing to lead India A in a three-match one-day series against Australia A at home. The series is set to start on Sunday in Mohali.
Trinbago Knight Riders topped the four-team league stage and have earned direct entry to the WCPL 2026 final, set for September 17 in Bridgetown. Bhatia’s departure marks a major loss for the franchise, given that she was the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer prior to leaving. With Verma’s exit, she joins five other Indians in the WCPL 2026 squad: Shikha Pandey at TKR and Kiran Navgire, Pooja Vastrakar, and Harleen Deol at Barbados Tridents.
Sushma has been absent from the Indian side’s considerations for quite some time now. She played her final international match in 2021, in an ODI against the South Africa women’s team, at home. She last played for the Indian team in 2023, during the T20I tri-series in South Africa, which also included the West Indies. However, she did not play in any games there and sat on the bench.
She was thrilled to be on the TKR side before the knockouts. It’s special to be part of the WCPL, Sushma said, as quoted by Cricinfo: “It’s special to be part of the WCPL, and I am grateful to the Knight Riders set-up for this opportunity.”
The wicketkeeper-batter has been focusing on improving her ability to hit sixes. The WCPL already included Indian players, with Sushma poised to become the sixth player in the Caribbean franchise league. India’s fast bowler Shikha Pandey is also part of the TKR, while batters Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, and Pooja Vastrakar are playing for the Barbados Tridents.
Bhatia has been named captain of India A for a three-match one-day series against Australia A, with the first match set for September 20, 2026. Following the one-day series, a four-day match will take place, making her India A commitment significant enough that she had to depart TKR before the WCPL knockouts concluded. Her leaving stands out considering her role in TKR’s campaign.
As the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, she was pivotal in helping the franchise finish atop the league stage. TKR, however, enter the September 17 final in Bridgetown having already secured their spot in the title match and will now rely on Verma and the rest of their team to build on that momentum.
