Yastika Bhatia ruled out of WPL 2026 as Gujarat Giants suffer telling blow
Yastika Bhatia (Source: IG/@yastika.bhatia)
Published - 10 Jan 2026, 02:37 PMā¢ Read time - 2 mins
Yastika Bhatia has been ruled out of WPL 2026, in a major blow for Gujarat Giants, who had roped her in at the player auction for INR 50 lakh. Yastika had undergone Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery in October and, therefore, her participation in the fourth WPL season was always doubtful.
The WPL had notified franchises that any team opting for her would not be permitted a replacement in the event of an injury during the course of the season. Despite the directive, Gujarat and UP Warriorz bid for her, and she was eventually snaffled by the former.
"Hi Yastika! Michael Klinger here. Hope you're going well, and hope the recovery is going well for you. Cannot wait to see you back fit and strong and be part of the Gujarat Giants in WPL season 5," said Giants' head coach Michael Klinger in a video shared by the franchise across their social media platforms.
She was ready to shine in orange but fate had other plans. š
ā Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) January 8, 2026
The Gujarat Giants family sends love and strength to Yastika Bhatia, Wishing her a speedy recovery. See you soon, champ. ā¤ļøāš©¹#GujaratGiants #BringItOn #Adani #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/5nl5k6B81L
If not for her injury, this would have been Yastika's first for Giants. She has played 28 games in the premier T20 competition for Mumbai Indians, scoring 506 runs at an average of 18.74 and a strike rate of 113.45, including a fifty.
She was a part of India A's tour of Australia in August last year, and her last international appearance was an ODI fixture against the White Ferns in Ahmedabad on October 29, 2024.
Giants pip Warriorz to kick off proceedings in style
Giants defeated UP Warriorz by 10 runs in their first game of the season on Saturday (January 10) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Georgia Wareham was the star for Giants as she showcased her all-round brilliance, scoring an unbeaten 27 off 10 and claiming 2/30 to win the Player of the Match (POTM).
Batting first, Giants scored 207 for the loss of four wickets with skipper Ashleigh Gardner scoring a 41-ball 65, laced with six fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 158.53.
In reply, Phoebe Litchfield kept Warriorz in the hunt with a 40-ball 78, but a lack of support meant that Warriorz fell short by inches. Renuka Singh was the pick of the Giants bowlers as she claimed figures of 2/25.
