The 37-year-old was playing just the eighth Test of her 17-year international career, a reminder of the few opportunities her generation had in the longest format.
In her pre-game press conference, she reflected on what it means to still attend the event: “Maybe it’s too late, but it’s not too late. I’m still playing and getting the chance to be a part of this historic day.”
History is made in other ways too. The first woman to sit on Lord’s famous Honors Board was Indian.
On Saturday, 22-year-old seam bowler Kranti Gaud became the first woman to get on the bowling board when she took 5 for 37 in England’s first innings. Gaud is from Ghuwara, a small town in central India, where her mother once pawned her jewels to buy one of her first cricket kits.
Yastika Bhatia, a left-handed batsman from Vadodara, another small town in western India, followed a day later. Her confident 113, the first international century of her career, made her the first woman to score a Test hundred at Lord’s and put her on the batting board.
But at this moment in history, Bhatia looked back at the people who made it possible.
“I think they (the pioneers of Indian women’s cricket) have made a valuable contribution because Test cricket, as you said, has been going on for 50 years,” Yastika said at the post-match press conference.
“Their contribution was very important and laid the foundation as they inspired us to take up cricket and perform it the way we do today,” she said.
She added that the pioneers of Indian women’s cricket did not get the recognition they deserved.
“Now we must take a moment to thank them for their contribution and what they have done for Indian cricket, world cricket and for being an inspiration to so many young cricketers,” Bhatia said.
