India captain Harmanpreet Kaur hopes her side’s historic win at Lord’s becomes the beginning of a longer journey for women’s Test cricket, calling for more red-ball matches after leading India to a famous victory over England.
India hammered England by 270 runs in the one-off Test at Lord’s to become the first team to win a women’s Test at the iconic venue. The victory was India’s fourth in their last five Tests and extended their unbeaten record in England, where they have now won three and drawn seven of their 10 matches.
Speaking after the match, Harmanpreet said she hoped the team would now get more opportunities to play the longest format.
“Hopefully we will get ten more Test matches and we can keep performing,” Harmanpreet said after lifting the trophy at Lord’s.
The India captain admitted she could not have imagined a better ending to the historic occasion.
“I don’t think so. God is a better writer and he has written it pretty well,” Harmanpreet said when asked if she could have scripted the victory any better.
Harmanpreet credited the team’s support staff for helping the players adapt quickly to English conditions after a difficult white-ball tour.
“It is the effort. The support staff, they have played a lot of Test cricket and they know how it moves, and they are giving us feedback each and every moment. Really want to thank Amol sir and everyone else for the way we played.”
“The last couple of series have not been in our favour. I want to give credit to the support staff. This summer did not go the way it wanted, but we came back strongly in the Test match,” she added.
YASTIKA, KRANTI LEAD INDIA’S CHARGE
India’s victory was built on contributions throughout the XI. Smriti Mandhana laid the platform with 83 in the first innings before Yastika Bhatia created history by becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s. Her magnificent 113 helped India declare at 341/7 in the second innings, setting England a daunting target of 457.
With the ball, Kranti Gaud’s five-wicket haul in the first innings gave India a decisive advantage before Sneh Rana’s four wickets in the second innings wrapped up the match early on the fourth morning.
Harmanpreet reserved special praise for Yastika Bhatia, explaining that the wicketkeeper-batter had justified the faith shown in her.
“That is why we put her in the eleven. Really happy with the way she batted.”
The India captain also highlighted her side’s improvement in the field, an area that has often come under scrutiny.
“The way our entire team fielded, it was special to watch. As a team, we have been working very hard. Really happy with the way our entire team fielded. Everyone came together and did the job for the team.”
Harmanpreet signed off by thanking the authorities for staging the match at Lord’s and reiterated her hope that women’s cricket would receive more opportunities to play Test matches at iconic venues.
“Playing at Lord’s is always special. Really want to thank people who thought about bringing the match here and hopefully we will get more here.”
– Ends
