Off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana has responded to her omission from India's squad for the Women's T20 World Cup with characteristic resolve, pledging to make a stronger comeback while shifting her immediate focus to India's historic one-off Test against England at Lord's. The announcement underscores a pivotal moment in her career as she transitions focus from the shortest format to red-ball cricket.

Why Sneh was left out of T20 plans

Sneh, who has 31 T20 International appearances, last featured in the format during India's home series against Sri Lanka last year. Her omission from the T20 World Cup squad came after Shreyanka Patil's return to the team, with the latter taking precedence in the shortest-format pecking order. Despite the setback, Sneh retained her place in India's red-ball contingent for the Lord's engagement.

The comeback mindset

Speaking exclusively to IANS on the sidelines of the 'Fancatchstic Chapter 2' event, Sneh remained unflinching about her prospects. "It's okay. As the fans call me the comeback queen, I will make sure that I come back with more bang," she said, acknowledging the pattern of setbacks and resurgences that have defined her career trajectory.

Lord's as a turning point

Sneh expressed palpable excitement about donning Test whites at Lord's, calling it a watershed moment. "Playing at Lord's is a big thing in itself, especially my favourite format. It is a very iconic ground — everyone knows Lord's. It is called the home of cricket. So, I am very privileged that I am a part of this team and representing my country there," she said. This Test will also mark India's second red-ball outing of 2026, following a ten-wicket defeat to Australia in Perth.

The physical demands of Test cricket

Sneh outlined the conditioning required for the rigours of Test match cricket. "The preparation is almost the same, but the time of preparation increases because you have to stand for long hours and bowl in one stretch. How you improve your fitness for that matters a lot in Test cricket," she explained, highlighting the endurance component that separates the formats.

Women's cricket's transformation

Sneh credited India's 2025 Women's ODI World Cup victory and the emergence of the Women's Premier League (WPL) for fundamentally reshaping public perception and career viability for female cricketers. "It feels good that people are recognizing women's cricket from a different mindset. The WPL changed half of it; the World Cup win changed the rest. Parents and children now see it as a viable profession," she noted, underscoring the shift from perception to practice.

Rising domestic competition

The professionalization of women's cricket has elevated domestic-level competition, making selection to the national team increasingly competitive. "When we used to play, it wasn't that competitive. Today, the competition has increased a lot. People have the eagerness to learn and prove themselves," Sneh observed, signalling a maturation of the ecosystem that benefits the sport's quality.

The case for more Test cricket

Sneh concluded by advocating for a consistent schedule of women's Test matches. "We want there to be series in our Test cricket and we should get to play Test matches as much as possible because the experience that a Test match gives is very important. I would like to play Test matches as much as possible in future," she said, making a case for structural investment in red-ball women's cricket at the international level.