From dominating the batsmen in the shortest format to getting her first Test cap in the home of cricket, Sri Charani’s remarkable rise reached another milestone on a historic day for women’s cricket.

England vs India, Women’s Only Test Day 1: Update | Achievement:

The left-arm spinner made her Test debut when India faced England for the first time in a women’s Test at Lord’s. In a memorable moment before the start of play, Charani received her cap from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her international career.

Lord’s, which has hosted men’s Tests since 1884, hosted a women’s Test for the first time, 50 years after welcoming its first women’s international match.

Mr. Charani was awarded

After a record-breaking campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup, Charani made her place in the team and emerged as India’s best bowler. The spinner finished the tournament with 14 wickets in five matches, the most by an Indian in an edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which also propelled her to the No. 1 T20I ranking among bowlers.

The 21-year-old broke Poonam Yadav’s previous Indian record of 10 wickets, which was set when India reached the final in 2020. Charani finished second in the all-time list of most wickets in a Women’s T20 World Cup behind New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr, who took 15 wickets in the 2024 edition.

India welcomed Yastika Bhatia to the Test team after more than two and a half years. The wicketkeeper-batsman did not play in the Chennai Test against South Africa in 2024 and the Perth Test against Australia earlier this year.

At the same time, England won the toss and decided to bowl first. The hosts handed Mady Villiers and Alice Capsey their first Test caps.

Playing XI for England vs India Lord’s Test

India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (W), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Sri Charani, Kranti Gaur.

England Women (Playing XI): Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt(c), Elise Capsey, Amy Jones(w), Mady Villiers, Sophie Ecclestone, Issie Wong, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer

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