"They played brilliantly, brought glory to the country": Harmanpreet Kaur's father hails India after historic Lord's Test triumph
Moga, July 14
India Women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur's father, Harmandar Singh Bhullar, expressed immense pride after the team scripted history by defeating England by 270 runs in the first-ever Women's Test at Lord's, saying the players excelled in every department to bring glory to the nation.
Reacting to India's landmark victory at the iconic venue in London, Bhullar credited the team's all-round effort and thanked the Almighty for his daughter's achievement.
"They won by a huge margin, and we are absolutely delighted. We are truly grateful to Waheguru for helping our daughter reach this milestone. We thank him profusely. The entire team contributed with excellent batting, fielding, and bowling. They played brilliantly, brought glory to the country, and won the Test match," he told ANI.
India Women produced one of the finest performances in their Test history to register a commanding 270-run victory over England, maintaining their unbeaten record in Women's Tests on English soil. The triumph also improved India's record to seven wins, three draws and just one defeat in their last 11 Tests.
The visitors dominated throughout the one-off contest, posting 285 in the first innings before bowling England out for 170 to secure a crucial 115-run lead. Harmanpreet played a key role with a composed 58, while Smriti Mandhana struck 83 and Deepti Sharma contributed 57.
India then tightened their grip on the match in the second innings as Yastika Bhatia etched her name into the record books by becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's.
Her memorable hundred, along with Smriti Mandhana's 70 and an unbeaten 50 from Richa Ghosh, helped India declare at 341/7 and set England a daunting target of 457.
England's chase never gained momentum as debutant pacer Kranti Gaud, who had claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, and Deepti Sharma dismantled the batting line-up. Deepti picked up four wickets in the second innings as England were bowled out for 186 on the fourth day.
The result also marked a disappointing farewell for England stalwarts Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont, who ended their international careers with defeat at the Home of Cricket.
India's victory carried added historical significance, coming exactly 24 years after former men's captain Sourav Ganguly's iconic shirt-waving celebration at Lord's following India's NatWest Trophy triumph over England on July 13, 2002.
On the same date in 2026, Harmanpreet Kaur's side produced another memorable chapter at the historic venue, becoming the first women's team to win a Test at Lord's and further cementing India's growing stature in red-ball cricket.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Absolutely thrilled to see this! As a woman who grew up watching men's cricket dominate every conversation, this victory feels so special. Yastika Bhatia becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's - my daughter will grow up knowing that women can achieve anything. Thank you, Harmanpreet and team, for breaking these barriers. 🙏
What a performance! 270-run win at Lord's - that's not just a victory, it's a statement. The way Kranti Gaud performed on debut (five-wicket haul!) and Deepti Sharma's consistent brilliance shows our bench strength is getting deeper. But I hope BCCI now gives them more Test matches - one-off Tests aren't enough for our women's team to showcase their talent.
Brilliant performance from India! As a cricket fan from Australia, I've followed women's Test cricket for years, and this Indian team is truly special. Harmanpreet's captaincy, the batting depth, and that bowling attack - they outclassed England in every department. Yastika's century at Lord's will be remembered for generations. Congratulations to India! 🏆
What a coincidence that this victory came exactly 24 years after Ganguly's iconic moment at Lord's! History repeating itself, but this time with our women's team. Harmanpreet's father's reaction is so heartwarming - every parent's dream is to see their child succeed at the highest level. This win is dedicated to every girl in India who dreams of playing cricket. #WomenInCricket
Excellent performance but I have mixed feelings. While I'm overjoyed for the team, I can't help but feel sad for Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont - they deserved a better farewell. That said, Indian women
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