Yastika Bhatia scores historic century at Lord's, first woman to do so in Tests
Synopsis
Yastika Bhatia didn't just score a century at Lord's — she made history as the first woman ever to do so in a Test match. Coming back from a career-threatening ACL injury, the Baroda wicketkeeper-batter reached 100 off 145 balls to a standing ovation, joining teammate Kranti Gaud on the Lord's Honours Board in the same match.
Key Takeaways
Yastika Bhatia became the first woman cricketer to score a Test century at Lord's Cricket Ground on 12 July .
She reached her maiden international hundred off 145 balls , hitting 12 boundaries .
Bhatia was returning from a career-threatening ACL injury , making this England tour her comeback to international cricket.
She joins teammate Kranti Gaud on the Lord's Honours Board — Gaud had taken a five-wicket haul on day two.
Former Australia cricketer Mel Jones described it as 'a moment she will never, ever forget' on air.
India wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia etched her name into cricket history on Sunday, 12 July, becoming the first woman cricketer to score a Test century at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The landmark knock arrived on day three of India's one-off Test against England, cementing her place on the hallowed Honours Board at the 'Home of Cricket.'
The Historic Knock
Bhatia reached her maiden international century off 145 balls, an innings adorned with 12 boundaries. She had gone into the lunch break on 91 and showed no trace of the nervous nineties when play resumed. She struck consecutive boundaries off England pacer Issy Wong through the backward point region before nudging a single to cover to complete the milestone in the afternoon session.
The Baroda-born cricketer did benefit from an early reprieve — the very first delivery of the day from Lauren Bell clipped her off-stump but failed to dislodge the bails. Capitalising on that slice of fortune, Bhatia played a dynamic yet disciplined innings, targeting the straight boundary and cover region with particular intent.
An Emotional Milestone
Upon reaching three figures, an emotional Bhatia dropped to her knees and kissed the turf at Lord's as the crowd rose to deliver a standing ovation. Former Australia cricketer Mel Jones, commentating on air, captured the moment: 'The fist goes up in the air as Bhatia, from Baroda to Lord's, can soak in this monumental occasion. A century at Lord's, on to the honours board and a moment she will never, ever forget.'
Comeback from Career-Threatening Injury
The achievement carries added weight given Bhatia's journey back to international cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter had overcome a career-threatening Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, and this England tour marked her return to the international stage. Her century is as much a statement of personal resilience as it is a cricketing first.
India's Double Honours Board Entry
Bhatia joins her India teammate Kranti Gaud on the Lord's Honours Board for this match. Gaud had secured her own entry a day earlier with a brilliant five-wicket haul on day two — making this a rare match where two Indian women cricketers earned a place on Lord's most coveted list in the same game.
With India's women's Test programme gaining renewed momentum, Bhatia's century at Lord's is likely to stand as one of the defining images of this generation of Indian women's cricket.
Point of View
But its deeper significance lies in what it represents for women's Test cricket in India. The format was near-extinct for Indian women just a decade ago; a packed Lord's giving a standing ovation to a Baroda wicketkeeper-batter signals how far the programme has travelled. Yet the fact that this is the first such century — ever — also underlines how rarely women have been given the opportunity to play Test cricket at the game's most iconic venue. The milestone should prompt administrators to ask whether the one-off Test format is generous enough for a generation of players clearly capable of filling Lord's Honours Boards.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Yastika Bhatia and why is her Lord's century historic?
Yastika Bhatia is an Indian wicketkeeper-batter who, on 12 July, became the first woman cricketer to score a Test century at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The milestone came on day three of India's one-off Test against England and earned her a place on the Lord's Honours Board.
How did Yastika Bhatia reach her century?
Bhatia reached her maiden international century off 145 balls, hitting 12 boundaries. She went into the lunch break on 91 and completed the milestone in the afternoon session by striking consecutive boundaries off Issy Wong before taking a single to cover.
What injury had Yastika Bhatia recovered from before this match?
Bhatia had recovered from a career-threatening Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. Her England tour was her return to international cricket after that setback, making the century at Lord's an especially significant personal achievement.
Who else from India's team is on the Lord's Honours Board for this match?
Kranti Gaud also earned a place on the Lord's Honours Board in the same match by taking a five-wicket haul on day two, making it a rare occasion where two Indian women cricketers appeared on the board in a single game.
What did commentator Mel Jones say about Yastika Bhatia's century?
Former Australia cricketer Mel Jones said on air: 'The fist goes up in the air as Bhatia, from Baroda to Lord's, can soak in this monumental occasion. A century at Lord's, on to the honours board and a moment she will never, ever forget.'
