Smriti Irani Hails India Women's Historic Lord's Feats
Synopsis
BJP leader Smriti Irani celebrated twin historic milestones by Indian women cricketers at Lord's: Yastika Bhatia's first-ever women's Test century at the ground and Kranti Gaud's sensational bowling that earned her a place on the Lord's Honours Board.
Key Takeaways
Yastika Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's Cricket Ground .
Kranti Gaud became the first woman to have her name inscribed on the Lord's Honours Board for a bowling performance.
BJP leader Smriti Irani publicly celebrated both achievements on 14 July 2026 .
India's women's Test programme, revived in 2014 , has steadily produced landmark individual performances abroad.
The BCCI 's expanded women's cricket funding since 2016 and the government's Khelo India initiative (launched 2017 ) form the institutional backdrop to these milestones.
BJP leader Smriti Irani, former Union Minister of Women and Child Development, on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, took to X to celebrate two landmark achievements by Indian women cricketers at Lord's Cricket Ground in London — Yastika Bhatia becoming the first woman to score a Test century at the venue, and Kranti Gaud earning a place on the iconic Lord's Honours Board for a sensational bowling performance.
Context
Yastika Bhatia etched her name into cricket history by registering the first Test century by a woman at Lord's, one of the most storied venues in world cricket. Kranti Gaud complemented that batting milestone with a bowling display compelling enough to see her name inscribed on the Lord's Honours Board — a distinction traditionally reserved for players who take five wickets in an innings or score a century at the ground.
Irani's post read: 'Immense pride in Yastika Bhatia for becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's, and Kranti Gaud for her sensational bowling performance, becoming first woman to have her name inscribed on the Lord's Honours Board!'
Policy Backdrop
The achievements come against a backdrop of sustained institutional investment in Indian women's cricket. The BCCI has steadily expanded allocations for women's domestic and international cricket since 2016, enabling longer-format tours to marquee venues such as Lord's. The government's Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, has simultaneously broadened grassroots cricket infrastructure and athlete support systems, helping surface talent from across the country.
India's women's Test programme itself was revived in 2014 after a lengthy hiatus, and the intervening decade has seen a steady accumulation of individual milestones in multi-day internationals abroad. The twin feats at Lord's represent a high-water mark for that expanded programme.
Stakeholders and Impact
Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud become the first women to appear on the Lord's Honours Board in their respective categories, a symbolic breakthrough at a ground that has historically been associated with men's Test cricket. For Indian women cricketers as a group, the milestone raises the profile of the longer format at a moment when the BCCI and the sports ministry have been under pressure to schedule more women's Tests.
Sports fans and women's cricket advocates have pointed to such achievements as evidence that sustained funding and competitive exposure translate directly into world-class performances. The visibility generated by a senior political figure such as Smriti Irani amplifies the reach of the story beyond the cricket audience.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to India women's next Test assignment and whether the BCCI accelerates its schedule of multi-day internationals on the back of this result. Any statement from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recognising the players — through awards such as the Arjuna Award or cash incentives — is also anticipated. The Lord's Honours Board update itself is expected to be formally confirmed by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which administers the ground.
Point of View
Allowing a senior BJP figure to associate the party's governance record — particularly Khelo India and BCCI support — with a globally resonant achievement. The choice to name both a batter and a bowler signals an intent to frame the milestone as a team and systemic success, not merely individual brilliance. At a deeper level, the Lord's Honours Board breakthrough feeds a broader narrative that Indian women athletes are now routinely competing and excelling in formats and venues once considered out of reach. This moment is likely to renew pressure on the BCCI and the sports ministry to commit to a more robust women's Test calendar.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Yastika Bhatia and what did she achieve at Lord's?
Yastika Bhatia is an Indian women's cricketer who became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, a historic first in women's Test cricket at the venue.
What is the Lord's Honours Board and why is Kranti Gaud's inclusion significant?
The Lord's Honours Board records players who score a century or take five wickets in an innings at Lord's . Kranti Gaud became the first woman to have her name inscribed on it for a bowling performance, breaking a long-standing gender barrier at one of cricket's most iconic venues.
Why did Smriti Irani post about Indian women cricketers?
Smriti Irani , a BJP leader and former Union Minister of Women and Child Development, shared her pride in the achievements of Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud on 14 July 2026 , celebrating the historic milestones at Lord's .
What is India's women's Test cricket history?
India's women's Test programme was revived in 2014 after a lengthy break, and since then the team has played an increasing number of multi-day internationals, supported by growing BCCI allocations and the government's Khelo India programme launched in 2017 .
Will Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud receive government awards for their achievements?
No formal government awards have been announced yet, but achievements of this scale at an iconic venue like Lord's typically prompt consideration for honours such as the Arjuna Award ; any official recognition would be announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports .
