Sushma Verma has been appointed to replace Yastika Bhatia for Trinbago Knight Riders during the final phase of the 2026 Women’s Caribbean Premier League. Bhatia is leaving the franchise prior to the tournament ending, and Verma will join TKR as they gear up for the final.
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 WCPL 2026: Shikha Pandey at TKR and Kiran Navgire, Pooja Vastrakar, and Harleen Deol at Barbados Tridents.
Cricinfo states Verma saying, “It’s special to be part of the WCPL and I am grateful to the Knight Riders set-up for this opportunity. I feel it is the fruit of the hard work I have put into my T20 game.”
Sushma has not been involved in matters from the Indian side 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 West Indies. However, she did not play in any games there and sat on the bench. This marks her comeback to top-tier cricket, as she has not participated in franchise cricket since 2023, the only time she competed in the WPL with Gujarat Giants.
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 her 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.
