Dream for every cricketer to play a Test at Lord's: Harmanpreet Kaur

MUMBAI: The upcoming summer of cricket in England offers plenty of excitement and is filled with anticipation for the Indian cricket lovers not just because of the Women's T20 World Cup, which kicks off on June 12, but also the historic one-off Women's Test at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground between India and England, which will be played from July 10-13. It will be the first-ever Women's Test at the traditional 'home of cricket,' which staged the 2017 WODI final between both the teams.

"I am very excited (about playing a test at Lord's). It’s a dream for every cricketer (to play a) Test match at Lord’s. I’d like to thank the BCCI for giving this opportunity and hopefully we’ll do well over the next two months and play our best cricket," said Indian women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the press conference after the announcement of India's squads for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the on-off Test, at the BCCI HQ on Saturday.

"It will be a marquee match. It's an excellent opportunity for our players to get into the limelight at the Mecca of Cricket. It’ll be very interesting. I'm sure that our team will come out with colourful results," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said.

A couple of days back, the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club had announced that Lord’s had broken the UK Women’s Test match attendance record for a Women's Test in England with over 23,207 tickets sold already sold, even as there is still 10 weeks to go for the history-making game.

"Fifty years after Rachael Heyhoe Flint first led a women’s side onto the Main Ground, the Home of Cricket is preparing for a summer defined by women’s sport including its first ever women’s Test match - a landmark moment that with ten weeks to go, ticket sales have already surpassed the highest attendance record (23,207) for a women’s Test in England. The Test is the headline act in a record breaking season at Lord’s, with 21 women’s fixtures scheduled. From international cricket to domestic competitions and pathway finals, thousands of supporters will have the chance to watch women’s cricket at Lord’s," the MCC stated.

India suffered a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of Australia in their one-off pink ball Test in Perth in March, but drew their one-off Test in England almost four years back in 2021, which was played at Bristol from June 16-19. Making a smashing Test debut, swashbucking opener Shafali Verma made 96, missing out narrowly on a century on Test debut, while allrounder Sneh Rana slammed a match-saving 80 not out in the second innings, apart from taking four for 131 in 39.2 overs with her off-spin.