Yastika, Kranti etch names on Lord's Honours Board in historic India feat
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaud made history at Lord's Cricket Ground during India's ongoing one-off Women's Test against England, becoming the first women cricketers to have their names inscribed on the iconic Lord's Honours Board. Former India men's head coach Ravi Shastri was among the first to celebrate the landmark, calling it something the pair would 'treasure all your life.'
Kranti's Five-Wicket Masterclass
On Day 2 of the Test, Kranti Gaud delivered a commanding bowling performance, claiming a five-wicket haul that bowled England out for 170 and handed India a crucial first-innings lead. In doing so, she became the first woman in the history of the game to have her name added to the prestigious Lord's Test Honours Board.
Kranti is now only the third Indian woman pacer to register a Test five-fer, joining legends Jhulan Goswami and Gargi Banerjee in that elite company. Notably, it is also the first five-wicket haul by an Indian woman fast bowler in Test cricket since Goswami claimed five wickets in both innings against England at Taunton in 2006 — a gap of nearly two decades.
Yastika's Century — A First in Women's Test History at Lord's
The following day, left-handed batter Yastika Bhatia rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion, becoming the first woman ever to score a Test century at Lord's Cricket Ground. She reached the three-figure mark off 145 deliveries, a knock embellished with 12 boundaries.
Upon reaching her historic hundred, an emotional Yastika dropped to her knees and kissed the turf at the 'Home of Cricket,' as the crowd rose to give her a standing ovation — a moment that will endure in Indian women's cricket folklore.
Shastri's Tribute on X
Shastri took to social media platform X to honour both players. 'Yastika, Kranti — you beauties. Welcome to the honours board at the Home of Cricket. This is something you will treasure all your life. And every Indian woman cricketer aspiring,' he posted, tagging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Lord's Cricket Ground.
What This Means for Indian Women's Cricket
The twin milestones arrive at a moment of growing momentum for Indian women's cricket. A five-wicket haul and a Test century at Lord's — two of the most coveted individual feats in the sport — claimed on the same occasion underscores the rising calibre of India's women's Test players. This comes amid broader efforts by the BCCI to expand the women's Test calendar, with the one-off format gradually giving way to multi-match series. With both Kranti and Yastika now firmly in the global spotlight, the pressure on administrators to provide more red-ball opportunities has never been greater.