London: India’s wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia (113 off 158 balls, 14 fours) scripted history at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground by becoming the first woman in the world to score a Test century at the historic venue. Her remarkable achievement will earn her a place on the prestigious Lord’s Honours Board alongside some of the greatest names in men’s Test cricket.
Yastika’s 113 Revives India’s Innings
The first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s is currently being played, and Yastika achieved the historic milestone during the second innings of the one-off Test against England. She was eventually dismissed for 113, but her superb century helped India take their second-innings total beyond the 400-run mark, including a lead of 115 runs.
Karate Black Belt and Talented Swimmer
Yastika Bhatia hails from Vadodara, where she was born and raised. She has represented Baroda in domestic cricket and has also played for Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Apart from cricket, she holds a black belt in karate, is an accomplished swimmer, and is also a skilled badminton player. She has represented India at the Women’s Cricket World Cup and was a member of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, her father, Harish Bhatia, converted a section of their society’s parking area into a practice net, where he helped Yastika continue her batting training despite the restrictions.
Before this Test, Yastika had scored only 98 runs across her previous three Test matches. On Sunday, however, she surpassed that tally in a single innings by producing a magnificent knock of 113 runs.
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