India great Sachin Tendulkar congratulated India Women with historic Test victory over England at Lord’s. He described it as a “golden moment” for women’s cricket after Harmanpreet Kaur’s side secured a memorable 270-run win in the first-ever women’s Test played at the iconic venue.
The one-off Test, held from July 10 to 13, 2026, marked a landmark occasion in the history of the game. India produced a complete team performance, combining disciplined batting with a relentless bowling attack to register one of the biggest victories in their Test history.
India arrived at Lord’s with big dreams and left with one of the most memorable wins of symbolic importance for women’s cricket.
India Dominate Historic Lord’s Test
India posted 285 in their first innings after several important contributions from the batting lineup.
Smriti Mandhana led the way with a fluent 83 off 108 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 58.
Deepti Sharma also made a valuable 57, and Jemimah Rodrigues contributed 35 as India built a competitive total.
For England, Sophie Ecclestone was the standout bowler with 3 for 68, while Lauren Filer took 2 for 40.
Kranti Gaud then gave India an early breakthrough with the ball as England ended Day 1 on 21 for 1, still trailing by 264 runs.
Kranti Gaud Creates Lord’s History
India’s bowlers took complete control on Day 2.
England were bowled out for 170 as Kranti delivered a historic spell of 5 for 37.
Her performance made her the first woman to have a five-wicket haul recorded on the Lord’s Honours Board.
Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana and Sayali Satghare also made important contributions as India built a commanding position.
With a significant first-innings lead, India then declared their second innings on 341 for 7, setting England a massive target of 457.
Yastika Bhatia And Mandhana Extend India’s Lead
Mandhana once again led from the front in the second innings with a composed 70.
Yastika Bhatia then produced the defining batting performance of the match, scoring a superb 113 off 158 balls.
Her century became the first women’s Test hundred at Lord’s for India and earned her a place on the famous Honours Board.
Richa Ghosh added quick runs with an unbeaten 50, helping India accelerate before the declaration.
The batting effort left England facing an almost impossible chase.
India Complete Dominant Win
England showed resistance in the fourth innings, but India’s balanced bowling attack proved too strong.
Ecclestone produced a fighting all-round performance, finishing with match figures of 55.2-6-186-8 and scoring a valiant 50.
However, England were eventually bowled out for 186 on Day 4.
Sneh Rana claimed 4 for 42, while Sayali Satghare bowled tidy spells and Kranti finished with match figures of 7 for 91.
Kranti’s Player of the Match performance will be remembered not only for the wickets but also for the symbolism of her name joining the greats in the Lord’s record books.
Tendulkar Praises Historic Achievement
Tendulkar, who addressed the Indian dressing room before the final day’s play, described the occasion as a defining moment for women’s cricket.
“Feels nice to be walking back on the green again,” Tendulkar said while reflecting on the significance of the first women’s Test at Lord’s.
“I’ve always considered Test cricket to be the pinnacle; this is a fantastic occasion, a golden moment in women’s cricket.”
He also highlighted the progress made in the women’s game, praising the initiatives that have improved opportunities and pay parity for female cricketers.
A Landmark for Women’s Cricket
A total attendance of 37,846 across the four days highlighted the growing popularity of women’s Test cricket and the demand for more matches at iconic venues.
“This is just the beginning,” Tendulkar said, expressing hope that the occasion would inspire greater investment and opportunities for future generations.
Later, the batting legend congratulated the Indian team in a message on social media.
“Every cricketer carries the dream of playing at Lord’s. Over the past four days, a new generation lived that dream as women’s Test cricket arrived at the Home of Cricket for the very first time. Congratulations to the Indian team on a wonderful victory. Smriti’s composure, Yastika’s brilliant century and Kranti’s five-wicket haul made this occasion even more special. The journey of women’s cricket has been remarkable, and this was another beautiful step forward.”
A Victory That Will Be Remembered
India’s victory was built on contributions across the squad. Harmanpreet Kaur led confidently, Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia delivered with the bat, while Kranti Gaud produced one of the finest bowling performances in Indian women’s Test history.
Beyond the 270-run margin, the triumph represented a historic milestone for women’s cricket. With new names added to the Lord’s honours boards and record crowds witnessing history, India’s memorable victory could prove to be another major step forward for the growth of the women’s game worldwide.
