Since 2021, women's cricket has seen only 13 Test matches played across four teams, a figure barely exceeding the minimum matches a men's side plays in a single World Test Championship cycle. This infrequency has relegated the format to an occasional feature rather than a consistent fixture for the last 20 years, with the last multi-game Test series occurring in 2006. Despite this, the Indian women's team recently delivered a commanding 270-run victory at Lord's, a performance that defied the scarcity of their red-ball experience.
India's head coach Amol Muzumdar noted that the team's success was rooted in discipline. "I think we were disciplined in our approach towards our batting and disciplined in our bowling as well," he said. "Sticking to the basics of cricket. While bowling…controlled line and length. Aggression mixed with patience. So I think that was a key factor for this win." While the team had a short turnaround from white-ball cricket, they utilized extra preparation time at Wormsley to reacclimatize to the red ball, a strategy Muzumdar considers key to their success abroad. The team has previously demonstrated this adaptability in one-off Tests, including draws in Bristol and Carrara in 2021.
England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt acknowledged the difficulty of the tight schedule following the T20 World Cup, noting her team would have preferred more preparation time. However, the Indian side, having transitioned from the same tournament, successfully navigated the shift. Looking ahead, India has a third Test on the horizon for 2026 during a tour of South Africa, following a match against Australia in March.
While the prospect of a women's World Test Championship remains an ambitious idea due to financial and structural variables, Muzumdar expressed personal support for the concept. "Why not? But I'm not the one to judge it or throw light on it. But I think if that happens, great." He emphasized that the squad views Test cricket as the ultimate format and takes great pride in competing in it. The recent Test at Lord's, which drew a record attendance of 37,846 across four days, serves as a promising indicator for the future of the format. Regardless of whether the fixture frequency increases, the Indian team has proven they can quickly find their bearings in the longest format, regardless of preparation time.
England and India were incidentally the teams in action back then – as they were when a drought of 142 years ended at Lord's, which played host to its maiden women's Test. Yet, the Indian women's team once again delivered a performance that belied the sparse sprinkling of Test cricket, sauntering to a 270-run win.
From not having a Test on the calendar in 2025, India have a third on the horizon in 2026 when they tour South Africa later in the year, having also played Australia in March.
