'It was a wasted position': Ex-India skipper Diana Edulji slams head coach Amol Muzumdar's selection call to include Yastika Bhatia in playing XI

India women’s head coach Amol Muzumdar has drawn criticism for team selection during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. After Harmanpreet Kaur-led India’s exit from group stage, former India captain Diana Edulji has raised questions about wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia’s inclusion in the playing eleven, especially for the must-win match against Australia where she did not get to bat.

"Now, we played Yastika Bhatia, as what? She couldn't come out to bat. She's not a bowler. She's the second wicketkeeper. So, it was a wasted position. We could have had someone in her place who might have contributed,” she told Cricbuzz.

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Yastika dropped from T20I team

Yastika managed to score just 41 runs from three innings in the T20 World Cup. She is the only player apart from replacement player Prema Rawat to be dropped from T20I side in aftermath of T20 World Cup 2026 early ouster. She has not found a place in the squad for Asian Games 2026.

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Who should’ve replaced Yastika?

Edulji feels pacer Nandni Sharma would’ve done better. She wondered why she was benched for the Australia game.

"Nandni (Sharma) was one of the wicket-taking finds of the WPL and then did well again. I don't see why we couldn't continue with her and Kranti Goud." she added.

How Nandni fared in T20 World Cup 2026?

Nandni had played three games in the tournament. She claimed two wickets for 22 runs against Netherlands. She conceded 17 runs from 2.1 overs against South Africa and remained wicketless. In the Bangladesh game, she bagged one wicket but went for 32 runs in three overs.

Did India underuse Bharti Fulmali?

India had a few players who can play the anchor role. Against Australia, Jemimah Rodrigues was chosen for the no.3 role ahead of Yastika. However, the team management benched a batter who had potential for big hitting. Bharti Fulmali played just one game in the season. In the middle order, Bharti played just one game against Pakistan where she was dismissed stumped for a single-digit score. Bharti has retained her place in the T20I squad and is likely to showcase here big-hitting in Asian Games 2026.