Indian Players’ WCPL Round-Up: Shikha, Yastika impress but poor debut for Vastrakar

Shikha Pandey, Yastika Bhatia, and Kiran Navgire in WCPL 2026
Shikha Pandey, Yastika Bhatia, and Kiran Navgire in WCPL 2026 (PC: CPL T20)

The fifth season of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) is underway, with two matches already played. Four Indian players are in action this season, with Yastika Bhatia and Shikha Pandey representing Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), while Kiran Navgire and Pooja Vastrakar are playing for Barbados Tridents (BT), formerly known as Barbados Royals.

The two teams faced each other in the tournament opener in Bridgetown on September 5, with TKR securing a 21-run victory over the three-time defending champions, Tridents. Both Yastika and Shikha made an impact for the Knight Riders.

It is a debut WCPL season for Yastika, Navgire and Vastrakar, and Yastika made an immediate impression with the bat. Opening alongside Laura Harris, she stitched together a quickfire 67-run partnership in just 5.4 overs before scoring 35 off 28 balls at a strike rate of 125.

Defending 155, veteran medium-pacer Shikha, who is playing her third WCPL season, took charge with the ball. She claimed three wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Tridents skipper Hayley Matthews. Her impactful spell earned her the Player of the Match award.

Kiran Navgire in WCPL 2026
Kiran Navgire in WCPL 2026 (PC: CPL T20)

For Navgire and Vastrakar, however, it was a less impressive debut. Batting at number three, Navgire scored 28 off 21 balls at a strike rate of 133.33 but could not convert her start into a match-winning contribution.

There was considerable attention on Vastrakar, the 26-year-old all-rounder who has struggled with fitness issues over the last two years. She last represented India in October 2024, making this WCPL stint an important opportunity to push her case for a return to the international set-up.

However, her tournament debut did not go as planned. With the ball, Vastrakar went wicketless, conceding 23 runs in two overs at an economy rate of 11.5. With the bat, she managed just two runs off three balls.

Indian players’ performances so far in WCPL 2026

Yastika Bhatia – 35 runs, SR 125

Shikha Pandey – 8 runs, SR 200 and 3 wickets, Econ 4.63

Kiran Navgire – 28 runs, SR 133.33

Pooja Vastrakar – 2 runs, SR 66.66 and no wickets, Econ 11.50

Upcoming matches

Yastika Bhatia and Shikha Pandey – Jamaica Express vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Bridgetown, September 10

Kiran Navgire and Pooja Vastrakar – Barbados Tridents vs Jamaica Express, Bridgetown, September 13

  • All dates are according to IST.

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