Brisbane Heat Add Yastika Bhatia Ahead of WBBL 12

Brisbane Heat have added India's Yastika Bhatia to their roster for the Women's Big Bash League season, filling the gap left by injured Australian Jess Jonassen.

Bhatia is the third overseas player the Heat have signed for WBBL 12 and the only Indian cricketer in this year's tournament. She previously represented Melbourne Stars in WBBL 10. The 25-year-old is expected to join the group before the team faces Sydney Thunder on Sunday at Drummoyne Oval, and she will be available for the rest of the competition.

Her overseas teammates for the campaign include England spinner Sarah Glenn and Irish all-rounder Orla Prendergast.

Jonassen, who has played more matches for Brisbane than any other player and has served as captain, is currently out with a hip injury. That has prompted the franchise to bring in Bhatia for added batting strength. The left-handed batter has appeared in six league matches and comes with international experience across all three formats.

Head coach Mark Sorell described the signing as a significant move. "Securing a player with such good international experience this close to the tournament is a big thing for us," he said. "We will definitely miss Jess Jonassen, but it is comforting to have another strong, aggressive left-hander in our batting order. Yastika has played in Australia and at the Allan Border Field, which is a real advantage. We believe she will fit in well with the group."

Bhatia's road back to competitive cricket was lengthy. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament in September last year, which kept her out of action for about 18 months. That layoff included India's ODI World Cup 2025 win. Returning in July, she scored a century in her first Test after surgery, becoming the first woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's against England. India won the match by 270 runs. She was also part of India's T20 World Cup squad earlier this year.

In the Women's Premier League, Bhatia has been a champion twice with Mumbai Indians, in 2023 and 2025.

Brisbane Heat begin their WBBL 12 campaign against Sydney Sixers on Friday night in Brisbane.

Brisbane Heat WBBL 12 squad: Lilly Bassingthwaite, Bonnie Berry, Yastika Bhatia (India), Lucinda Bourke, Sianna Ginger, Sarah Glenn (England), Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Charlie Knott, Annie O'Neil, Grace Parsons, Orla Prendergast (Ireland), Georgia Redmayne, Katherine White and Mikayla Rigley.