India wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma has joined Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) as a replacement for Yastika Bhatia, who has left the 2026 Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) to join India A for their upcoming series against Australia A. Bhatia, currently the second-highest run-scorer in WCPL 2026, will return to India ahead of the three-match one-day series against Australia A, which begins on September 20. She will captain India A in the ODI series and will also feature in the four-day match that follows. For Sushma Verma, the move represents a return to top-level competitive cricket. The 31-year-old last featured in India's squad during the T20I tri-series in South Africa in 2023, although she did not get an opportunity to play. Verma's only previous franchise experience came in the inaugural Women's Premier League season in 2023, when she represented Gujarat Giants. She scored 42 runs across five innings at a strike rate of 79.24. The wicketkeeper-batter has recently focused on improving her power-hitting. Her progress was evident during the 2025-26 domestic one-day tournament, where she struck nine sixes in six innings — the third-highest tally in the competition. "It's special to be part of the WCPL and I am grateful to the Knight Riders set-up for this opportunity," Verma told ESPNcricinfo. "I feel it is the fruit of the hard work I have put into my T20 game." Verma becomes the sixth Indian player to feature in WCPL 2026. Alongside her and Bhatia, Shikha Pandey is part of TKR, while Kiran Navgire, Pooja Vastrakar and Harleen Deol represent Barbados Tridents. TKR have already booked their place in the WCPL final after finishing at the top of the four-team league stage. The second finalist will be decided in the playoff between Barbados Tridents and Guyana Amazon Warriors. The WCPL 2026 final is scheduled to be played in Bridgetown on September 17.

Barbados Tridents secured their first points of WCPL 2026 with a dramatic last-ball victory over Jamaica Empress, significantly damaging the first-time participants’ hopes of reaching the playoffs. Defending a modest total of 140, Tridents held their nerve in a tense finish after Qiana Joseph delivered a superb final over. Empress needed nine runs from the last six balls with six wickets in hand, but Joseph conceded only five singles and no boundaries to secure a crucial victory. The result moved Tridents up to third in the points table, while Jamaica Empress are now on the brink of elimination. Barbados will face second-placed Guyana Amazon Warriors in their final league-stage match. Playoff Race Goes Down to the Wire The final qualification standings will be decided by the result of Tridents' match against Amazon Warriors. Trinbago Knight Riders have already secured a top-three finish. Barbados could still drop to fourth behind Jamaica Empress if they suffer a heavy defeat against Guyana. However, Tridents currently hold a significant advantage in net run rate, sitting at -0.450 compared with Empress’ -1.153. That advantage means Empress will need a substantial result elsewhere to keep their playoff hopes alive. Lanning and Hunter Put Empress in Control Jamaica Empress appeared firmly in command during their chase of 141. Captain Meg Lanning produced an outstanding 46-ball 57 and combined with Amy Hunter for a dominant opening partnership worth 104 runs. With Empress needing only 37 runs from 43 deliveries and all 10 wickets still available, victory appeared almost certain. But the game changed dramatically after Hunter was dismissed for 47. Suzie Bates then removed Rashada Williams in her final over, while the Tridents' bowlers successfully dried up the flow of boundaries. Lanning eventually fell in the 18th over, leaving Empress needing 14 runs from the final two overs. Cherry-Ann Fraser then delivered an excellent 19th over, conceding only five runs despite bowling two wides. Joseph completed the job in the final over, allowing just five singles. Even off the final delivery, when Empress required five runs to win, she conceded only a single to seal the Tridents’ victory. Bates and Green Rescue Tridents Earlier, Barbados struggled after choosing to bat first. Openers Qiana Joseph and Hayley Matthews scored 14 and 21 respectively, both at less than a run a ball. The Indian duo of Kiran Navgire and Harleen Deol, making her WCPL debut, also failed to reach double figures. Their struggles left Tridents in trouble at 56 for 4 after 10 overs. New Zealand veterans Suzie Bates and Maddy Green then steadied the innings with a crucial 78-run partnership from 10 overs. Green scored a valuable 39 before falling, while Bates remained unbeaten on 39 to carry Barbados beyond the 130-run mark. The Tridents endured another late wobble when three wickets fell in four deliveries during a 12-run final over from Stafanie Taylor. Despite the collapse, Barbados finished on 140, a total that ultimately proved just enough. The dramatic victory gives Tridents renewed hope of reaching the WCPL playoffs, while Jamaica Empress now face an uphill battle to keep their campaign alive.

Trinbago Knight Riders began their Women’s Caribbean Premier League campaign in winning fashion, defeating defending champions Barbados Tridents by 21 runs in the tournament opener in Bridgetown. After being asked to bat first by Tridents captain Hayley Matthews, Knight Riders made an explosive start as Laura Harris and Yastika Bhatia put together a 67-run opening partnership in just 5.4 overs. Harris led the charge with a quickfire 38 off 19 balls, while Yastika scored 35 off 27 deliveries. The Knight Riders appeared well placed at 93 for 1 in the 10th over, but Barbados fought back strongly. Qiana Joseph dismissed Yastika by stumping, triggering a collapse that saw Trinbago slip to 133 for 6 in the 18th over. Madeline Penna provided a crucial late contribution, scoring 27 from 21 balls to help Knight Riders reach 155 before being bowled out on the final delivery of the 20th over. Joseph was the pick of the Tridents bowlers, finishing with 3 for 27, while Suzie Bates and Matthews claimed two wickets apiece. Chasing 156, Barbados made a promising start. Matthews and Joseph shared a 40-run opening partnership before Maddy Green and Kiran Navgire added 39 for the third wicket. Navgire continued to keep the Tridents in contention, contributing 28 and later putting on another 22-run stand with Naijanni Cumberbatch. Barbados reached 107 in the 13th over with four wickets down and looked capable of mounting a serious challenge. However, the chase quickly unraveled after the dismissals of Navgire and Green. Shikha Pandey spearheaded the Knight Riders' bowling attack, removing Matthews earlier in the innings before dismissing Cumberbatch and eventually wrapping up the Tridents innings. Barbados were bowled out for 134 in 18.4 overs. Pandey finished with impressive figures of 3 for 17 and was named Player of the Match. Samara Ramnath and Deandra Dottin also made important contributions with two wickets each. The 21-run victory gives Trinbago Knight Riders an ideal start to their Women's Caribbean Premier League campaign, while defending champions Barbados Tridents will look to bounce back in their next match.