Wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry made her long-awaited ODI debut on Sunday as India faced Bangladesh in their final group-stage match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. She replaced Richa Ghosh in the playing XI, becoming only the second woman from Assam to represent India in ODIs after Ritu Dhrub, who played for the national side between 2013 and 2014.
Chetry received her debut cap from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana in a heartwarming moment before the match. “Making a debut for India is already a special feeling. And making it in a World Cup is even more special,” Mandhana said. “We have all seen how hard you work. Your fitness and athleticism push everyone in the camp to do better. Keep motivating us and winning matches for India.”
Before her ODI debut, Chetry had featured in seven T20Is for India, last appearing against the West Indies in December 2024 at the same venue. She was also part of India’s gold medal-winning squad at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and represented India A in the ACC Women’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup earlier that year.
Chetry’s progress through domestic and franchise cricket has been steady. She made her Women’s Premier League debut for UP Warriorz in 2023, stepping in as a replacement for the injured Vrinda Dinesh.
The final league match, however, did not go as planned. Persistent rain kept interrupting play throughout the day, eventually forcing the game to be abandoned. Bangladesh had managed 119 for 9 in 27 overs before the weather intervened again.
India began their chase confidently, reaching 57 without loss in 8.4 overs, but heavy rain returned and ended any hopes of a result. For Uma Chetry, though, it remained a memorable day — one where she officially began her ODI journey with India, even if the weather had the final say.