Left-arm spinner Shuchi Upadhyay has been ruled out of India’s women’s squad for their white-ball tour of England due to an injury on her left shin. Her absence paves the way for Radha Yadav to make her return to international cricket in both the T20 and ODI formats against England.
Upadhyay, who debuted in ODIs during the recent tri-series in Sri Lanka, has been an emerging talent for India. Her performances in the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy last December were particularly noteworthy, where she was the third-highest wicket-taker with 18 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 3.48. Her form was instrumental in Madhya Pradesh securing the trophy, earning her the Player of the Tournament accolade.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated, “The shin injury was diagnosed during the pre-tour camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.”
In her stead, Radha Yadav, a seasoned spinner with seven ODI and 84 T20I caps to her name, returns to the fold. Radha last played for India in December 2024, where she claimed four wickets against the West Indies. Despite a strong showing, she was not picked for the subsequent ODI series. Earlier, she had been the leading wicket-taker in the home ODI series against New Zealand.
The England tour starts on 28th June, where India will engage with the hosts in five T20Is followed by three ODIs. Radha’s inclusion promises to add experience and depth to the bowling line-up as the team looks to challenge England on their home turf.
The matches should provide an entertaining contest for fans and an opportunity for Radha to make a significant impact once again.
