Shree Charani Shines on Historic Day for Women’s Cricket
In an exciting turn for women’s cricket, Shree Charani has made significant strides in her career by earning her first Test cap at Lord’s, the iconic Home of Cricket. This remarkable achievement unfolded during the first-ever women’s Test match held at this legendary venue.
Before the action commenced, Charani was presented her cap by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, marking an uplifting start to her entry into Test cricket. Lord’s has a long history of hosting men’s Tests since 1884, and this marks a significant moment as it welcomes women’s Test cricket for the first time, exactly 50 years after its first women’s international game.
Charani’s Journey to the Test Side
Charani’s ascent to the team followed a standout performance at the Women’s T20 World Cup, where she emerged as India’s leading bowler. She took an impressive 14 wickets in just five matches, breaking the previous record held by Poonam Yadav, who bagged 10 wickets in 2020. With this achievement, Charani not only topped the charts for India but also climbed to the No. 1 spot among T20I bowlers.
At only 21 years old, she is now second on the all-time list for the most wickets in a single Women’s T20 World Cup, just behind New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, who took home 15 wickets in the 2024 edition.
Return of Yastika Bhatia
Alongside Charani, the Indian squad also welcomed back Yastika Bhatia to the Test lineup after more than two years. The wicketkeeper-batter had missed crucial matches, including a Test against South Africa and another against Australia.
In this exciting encounter, England won the toss and chose to bowl first. They introduced talented newcomers Mady Villiers and Alice Capsey, who also received their maiden Test caps.
Playing Lineups
India Women (Playing XI):
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (w), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud
England Women (Playing XI):
Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (w), Mady Villiers, Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer
This historic day is not just a milestone for Charani but also a celebration of women’s cricket, paving the way for future generations.
Published By: Sabyasachi Chowdhury
Date: July 10, 2026
