Pooja Vastrakar, Kiran Navgire, Shikha Pandey, and Yastika Bhatia have been named among the overseas signings for the 2026 Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), tournament organisers confirmed on Friday, 28 August. The four Indian cricketers will represent two franchises when the competition runs from 5–17 September, with all matches scheduled at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Indian Players and Their Franchises

Fast-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar and explosive batter Kiran Navgire will turn out for defending champions Barbados Tridents. The pair will join former New Zealand batting stalwart Suzie Bates and fellow White Fern Madeline Green in the Tridents' overseas contingent. For both Pooja and Kiran, this will mark their first appearance in the WCPL.

Experienced pacer Shikha Pandey — a veteran of the previous two WCPL seasons — will be joined by wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia at the Trinbago Knight Riders. The Indian duo will feature alongside South Africa's star seam-bowling all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, and the Australian pair of Laura Harris and leg-spinner Madeline Penna. Like Pooja and Kiran, this is Yastika's first WCPL outing.

Vastrakar and Bhatia: Form and Context

Pooja's WCPL selection marks a significant milestone in her comeback story. The all-rounder missed international cricket after the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup due to shoulder surgery and a hamstring injury, returning to competitive action via the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 with eventual champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). She also led Chambal Ghariyals Women to the title in the Madhya Pradesh Women's T20 league this year. Her only prior overseas franchise experience came with Brisbane Heat in the 2022/23 Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia.

Kiran, who represents UP Warriorz in the WPL, is set to have her first overseas T20 franchise experience in the Caribbean. Yastika, meanwhile, previously turned out for Melbourne Stars in the 2024/25 WBBL. Notably, she became the first batter to hit a Women's Test century at Lord's in July this year. She is also slated to captain India 'A' in 50-over and red-ball matches against Australia 'A', scheduled just three days after the WCPL concludes.

Tournament Format and Full Overseas Roster

Under the 2026 WCPL format, the group-stage table-toppers advance directly to the final, while the second and third-placed sides contest a playoff to determine the second finalist. Former Australia captain Meg Lanning headlines the lineup for debut franchise Jamaica Empress, alongside Ireland opener Amy Hunter, South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, New Zealand seamer Rosemary Mair, and Pakistan leg-spinner Syeda Aroob Shah — the latter two making their WCPL debuts.

Guyana Amazon Warriors have assembled a formidable squad in pursuit of their maiden WCPL title, signing South Africa pace spearhead Shabnim Ismail, all-rounders Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk, top-order batter Tazmin Brits, and Australia's Erin Burns. Except for Tazmin, all the Warriors' international recruits have prior WCPL experience.

Full 2026 WCPL Overseas Signings

Barbados Tridents: Madeline Green (New Zealand), Suzie Bates (New Zealand), Pooja Vastrakar (India), Kiran Navgire (India)
Guyana Amazon Warriors: Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Erin Burns (Australia), Chloe Tryon (South Africa), Tazmin Brits (South Africa), Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)
Jamaica Empress: Meg Lanning (Australia), Amy Hunter (Ireland), Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa), Syeda Aroob Shah (Pakistan), Rosemary Mair (New Zealand)
Trinbago Knight Riders: Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Shikha Pandey (India), Laura Harris (Australia), Madeline Penna (Australia), Yastika Bhatia (India)

With four Indian players across two franchises, the 2026 WCPL — running entirely at the Kensington Oval from 5–17 September — promises to be a closely watched competition for Indian cricket fans ahead of a busy international calendar.