Yastika Bhatia: Historic Lord’s century ends injury nightmare for Indian women’s cricketer. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter became the first woman to score a Test hundred at Lord’s, hitting 113 off 158 balls with 14 fours on Day Three of the women’s Test against England.
Yastika Bhatia’s father, Harish, revealed the century was the result of months of hard work after a knee injury ruled her out of the 2025 ODI World Cup. She underwent ACL surgery in October and spent six months in rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Her teammates supported her throughout, sending encouraging messages and even packing her bags after the injury. All her teammates were crying when Yastika got injured, Harish told TOI from Baroda.
Yastika Bhatia had told her father she wanted to help India win the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, but that couldn’t happen. However, her Lord’s century is a significant achievement. Former India wicketkeeper Kiran More, who mentored her, credited her persistence. It was a fine century. She has always been very talented but struggled with injuries. Yastika has now proved her worth, More said. Former captain Diana Edulji hopes this is a turning point in her career, adding she must remain injury-free.
Yastika Bhatia joins an elite list of Indian cricketers with Test centuries at Lord’s, including Vinoo Mankad, Rahul Dravid, and Ajinkya Rahane. This historic knock marks her return to top form after overcoming adversity, showcasing her resilience and dedication to Indian women’s cricket. Her family, coaches, and teammates celebrate this milestone as a testament to her hard work.