India Begin Training for Landmark Test Match
Following their early exit from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, India Women have wasted no time turning their attention to the red-ball format as preparations get underway for the historic one-off Test against England at Lord’s, scheduled to begin on July 10.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared images from the squad’s training sessions, showing players working extensively in the nets as they prepare for one of the biggest occasions in the history of women’s cricket.
Lord’s Set to Host Its First Women’s Test
The upcoming fixture will mark a historic milestone, with Lord’s hosting a women’s Test match for the very first time.
The occasion also coincides with the 50th anniversary of former England captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint leading England Women onto the Main Ground at Lord’s for the first time in 1976.
Interest in the match has been significant, with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) confirming that more than 30,000 tickets have already been sold across the four scheduled days, highlighting the continued growth of the women’s game.
Recent Experience in the Longest Format
India enter the contest with recent experience in Test cricket after facing Australia in a day-night one-off Test at the WACA Ground in Perth earlier this year.
Australia secured a comprehensive 10-wicket victory after bowling India out for 198 and 149 in the two innings. Jemimah Rodrigues scored 52 in the first innings, while Pratika Rawal contributed 63 in the second. Fast bowler Sayali Satghare impressed with figures of 4/50 during Australia’s first innings, but the hosts posted 323 before comfortably chasing a target of 25.
Confidence from Dominant Win Over England
Despite the defeat in Australia, India will draw confidence from their most recent Test against England.
In December 2023 at Navi Mumbai, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side registered one of the most dominant victories in women’s Test history, defeating England by 347 runs.
India piled up 428 in the first innings, with Shubha Satheesh (69), Jemimah Rodrigues (68), Yastika Bhatia (66) and Deepti Sharma (67) all producing half-centuries.
England were then bowled out for just 136 as Deepti produced sensational figures of 5/7. India declared their second innings at 186/6 before dismissing England for 131 to complete their biggest-ever Test victory by runs.
Opportunity to Create More History
The Lord’s Test offers India an opportunity to move on from their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign while creating history at one of cricket’s most iconic venues.
Having enjoyed considerable success in home Test matches over recent years, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will now look to replicate those performances in English conditions against one of the strongest teams in women’s cricket.
A victory at Lord’s would not only mark a memorable chapter in Indian women’s cricket but also provide the perfect response following their group-stage exit from the World Cup.
India Squad for the One-Off Test
India have named a strong squad for the historic fixture:
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Pratika Rawal, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh, Jemimah Rodrigues, Sayali Satghare, Shafali Verma, Nandni Sharma and N. Sree Charani.
