Yastika Bhatia stepped onto the hallowed grounds of Lord’s carrying with her eight months of pent-up frustration and an insatiable desire for runs that had only intensified during her recovery. She walked away with a remarkable place in cricket history. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Vadodara made her mark as the first woman to score a Test century at this legendary venue, racking up 113 runs off 158 balls against England in the inaugural women’s Test at Lord’s. In this incredible feat, Yastika accomplished something even the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli never achieved, a century at the Home of Cricket. Now, her name proudly graces the esteemed honours board, standing alongside some of the sport’s greatest icons, including Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Vivian Richards.
Speaking to Forbes India after returning home, Yastika said the innings carried extra meaning because, “The past two/three years have been very difficult for me and I’ve come through some injuries. The last year especially has been very stressful [because I was away from the game for eight months with an ACL tear]. So I came into this game very hungry for runs.”
“I Got Emotional” – Yastika Bhatia Opens Up on Her Lord’s Century Moment
For Yastika, reaching the century was about so much more than just the runs on the board. It symbolized the culmination of a long journey of recovery and the exciting start of a new chapter in her career. She had thought about how she might celebrate if she hit that milestone, but when the moment finally came, emotions took over. Instead of a big celebration, she said, “I had planned a celebration, but then I thought, let it be. Let’s keep it a bit normal. But I kissed the flag, and that was a very proud moment for me. I got emotional when I took off my helmet. I want to do a lot for India, win a lot for the country and win the World Cup too.”
Her unbeaten 113 featured 14 boundaries and came at a strike rate of 71.51. As she took off her helmet, a flood of memories from her surgery, rehab sessions, and the tournaments she missed came rushing back. The unwavering support from her family and the encouragement she received during her recovery made this achievement even more special. This innings also fueled her ambition to bring home major trophies for India, including a World Cup.
A significant highlight of her innings was the partnership with Smriti Mandhana. Yastika shared that she had looked up to Mandhana’s batting since she was young and considered her a true inspiration. Throughout the innings, Mandhana’s guidance helped Yastika stay focused on each ball. That partnership, along with Yastika’s fierce determination, led to a historic hundred that will be remembered in the annals of Lord’s for years to come.
