India batter Yastika Bhatia has opened up about her difficult recovery journey from a serious ACL injury after making a successful comeback in the opening women’s T20I against England. The left-handed batter played a crucial role in India’s 38-run victory with a fluent 54 off 40 balls, helping the visitors take an early lead in the series ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which begins on June 12. Her return marked an emotional moment after months of rehabilitation following the injury that had threatened to derail her career.

Yastika suffered the knee injury during India’s preparatory camp for last year’s ODI World Cup in Visakhapatnam, forcing her to undergo ACL surgery and spend several months away from competitive cricket. Reflecting on the recovery process after the match, she described the rehabilitation phase as physically and mentally demanding. She said rebuilding strength after ACL surgery felt like starting from scratch, adding that there were long periods where visible progress seemed impossible despite constant effort.

The batter credited her support system for helping her stay motivated during the difficult phase. Yastika acknowledged the role played by the Centre of Excellence staff, her family, friends, and teammates in keeping her positive throughout rehabilitation. She specifically mentioned teammate Jemimah Rodrigues for regularly checking in on her and encouraging her during recovery. The injury had also forced Yastika to miss India’s successful ODI World Cup campaign at home, making her comeback even more significant for both the player and the team management.

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Returning to the Indian side after a lengthy absence, Yastika looked confident from the start despite India losing Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma inside the opening over. Walking in under pressure, she steadied the innings alongside Jemimah Rodrigues and quickly settled into rhythm with attacking strokeplay. Yastika reached her half-century in just 31 balls and shared a match-defining 126-run partnership for the third wicket with Jemimah, turning the game decisively in India’s favor against England’s bowling attack.

Speaking about the partnership, Yastika said the plan was to remain positive, rotate strike, and gradually build momentum after the early setbacks. She praised Jemimah for showing maturity and composure during the innings, adding that her teammate constantly reassured and supported her even during brief quiet phases. Jemimah eventually scored 69 off 40 balls and was named Player of the Match for her contribution. Yastika said the innings reflected the growing confidence and maturity within the Indian batting group ahead of the World Cup.

India also found another encouraging performer in debutant pacer Nandini Sharma, who impressed with figures of 3/34 in her first international outing. Yastika praised the youngster for using her slower deliveries effectively and handling the pressure of debut cricket with confidence. She said Nandini’s performance highlighted the strength of India’s domestic structure and the Women’s Premier League, adding that new players entering the national side were immediately making an impact. With senior and emerging players contributing together, India will take confidence from the opening win as preparations intensify for the upcoming global tournament.

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