What the Indian women had and the men lacked in England was better planning, more time to acclimatise (players have been there since May for the World Cup and the T20I series), sensible selection, superior captain-coach co-ordination, better fielding (that catch by Richa Ghosh at silly mid-off was one of the finest ever), keener awareness of the game situation, all of which added up to a resounding Test win. The men’s 0-4 loss in the T20 series following the 0-2 loss to Ireland shone a light on issues that have been long glossed over.

Admittedly, the men were without Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah (rested), and skipper Surya Kumar Yadav (sacked) from the World Cup-winning side. Player-of-the tournament Sanju Samson was handled poorly, his increasing insecurity (with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waiting in the wings) used as a weapon against him.

Added to that was the mishandling of Sooryavanshi himself who was thrown in the deep end in England when he might have profited from starting out in Ireland. He was advised to ignore the noise around him, advice coach Gautam Gambhir himself followed, playing everything close to his chest. India failed to get the best out of their two top batters.

Misplaced belief

India believe they can field two or three T20 sides of roughly equal strength. The IPL, on which such a belief is based, is played on good tracks where explosive batters prosper and all-rounders miss out because of the impact substitute rule. As Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said in England, “What works in India won’t necessarily work here.”

Perhaps having so much skill in their ranks worked against the team. When there are many claimants for a slot, players try too hard, or attempt the spectacular regardless of the state of the match, the wicket or the opposition. An element of selfishness creeps in, especially if a player feels anxious. Sometimes nothing succeeds like failure. Were the Indian men undone by their own riches? Was competition for places a curse rather than a blessing? When teams begin to lose, individuals become overkeen to protect their territory.

If the women appeared more settled, and less troubled by selection, it had everything to do with coach Amol Muzumdar and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. The communication lines were clear. Television caught the captain preparing to declare in India’s second innings casually looking over her shoulder at the coach whose nod was almost imperceptible. There is respect here, and a maturity to understand their respective roles.

Contrasting attitudes

Muzumdar has been an outstanding mentor, bringing to his task a calmness and an empathy for the players which begets trust and respect, as Harmanpreet has acknowledged more than once.

Gambhir’s approach is more along the lines of “my way or the highway”, and his prickly nature can be intimidating. All is forgiven when the team succeeds, but brought into sharper focus when it does not.

Consistently poor fielding and catching are usually indication that there is a problem within the team. At no time did the Indian men look like the world champions they are; they have fabulous batters and excellent bowlers, but apparently not a great team — and that is worrying. A good showing in the one-day series will probably erase the results in T20; this is often the way. Earlier results tend to be forgotten, and thus forgiven.

The women were professional, and deserved the win. Yastika Bhatia’s century at Lord’s — Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli don’t have one there — and Kranti Gaud’s five wickets in an innings have a significance far beyond the honours board.

Striking a balance

Smriti Mandhana’s two half centuries, the success of the off spinners Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, an unbeaten half-century by Richa Ghosh point to team effort in the win. Harmanpreet’s fifty in the first innings and her measured captaincy throughout, unhurried, skilfully maintaining the balance between attack and defence was crucial too. India haven’t lost a Test yet in England, having now played ten.

The women’s victory coming on the heels of the men’s defeats might exaggerate some of the differences. Teams are judged by results, however, not on potential or future hope. In the here-and-now, the Indian women’s team has a lesson or two for the men’s.

Yastika Bhatia had never scored an international century. She chose the best possible venue, or occasion, for that.

Her maiden hundred became sweeter as it helped India score a massive win in the first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s. Her 113 off 158 balls in the second innings was one of the best you would witness in Test cricket.

The 25-year-old defended stoutly when required, and unleashed pleasing shots, all around the park, whenever she got the opportunity. And this knock, which made her the first woman batter to etch her name on the famous Lord’s honours board, came after she went through tough times because of an ACL injury that kept her out of the ODI World Cup at home and more.

“It is unbelievable because I was in a very different place six months ago. If you had told me that I would have my name on the honours board, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Yastika said.

“But those were small steps to that place. I have worked really hard and my family’s support was also there since the beginning. All of that really paid off. It is a really great feeling.”

The southpaw wasn’t thinking of a century when she came out to resume her innings on the third day. “Our aim was to post a big total at a good scoring rate so that we would have enough time to take 10 wickets.”

She revealed that a chat with fellow left-handed batter Smriti Mandhana helped her a great deal.

“I had a conversation with Smriti. She just looked at me and said: ‘this is going to be a turning point in your career,’” Yastika said. “Smriti said that because of the similar injuries she had suffered.”

India wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia believes her “best is yet to come” after she became the first woman cricketer to hit a Test century at the iconic Lord’s stadium, marking an incredible comeback from a career-threatening knee injury last year.

Bhatia struck 113 off 158 before India declared their second innings at the stroke of tea on day three, setting hosts England a massive 457-run target.

“It’s unbelievable (to become first woman cricketer to score a 100 at Lord’s) because six months ago I was in a very different place and if you would have told me that I would have my name in the honours board I wouldn’t have believed it,” Bhatia said after the third day’s play.

“The best is yet come, I have always believed that. But so far it’s really good and I enjoyed my time in the middle. It’s just the beginning, a lot more to come and I am looking forward to that,” he added.

She credited her family, teammates and support staff for helping her recover from the career-threatening torn ACL in her left knee that she sustained in October last year. The injury, which needed a surgery, prevented her from competing in India’s ODI World Cup-winning campaign at home.

“A lot of people have been working behind the scenes, my family, my father, mother, my sister they have been the biggest backbone, support. My coaches, trainers back home, the support staff and teammates here, they have backed me.

“Also COE (BCCI’s Centre of Excellence) where I underwent rehab. All of them played a crucial role, it wouldn’t have been possible without them,” she said.

Recollecting the tough phase during her recovery period, Bhatia said her love for the game kept her in a positive frame of mind.

“I started from scratch after the surgery. For two months I was in total rest, all muscles of my left leg were lost in that two months, so after that I had to start from scratch.

“Rehab process began after that and slowly, progress happened. So it was frustrating also, missing out on big tournaments and just doing rehab…but at the same time I had belief in myself that I can comeback from this injury,” the 25-year-old left-handed batter said. “People around me also helped me in keeping a positive frame of mind. Whatever setbacks you have but the love for the game and belief in yourself that’s very crucial to make a comeback from rock bottom,” she added.

She said she never though about a century and her only focus was on helping the team win the match.

“I didn’t think of my 100 or anything but on posting a big score at a good rate, so that we have good time to take their 10 wickets, that was in my mind. I always play best when I play for the team. Playing for the country is a matter of big pride for me,” she said.

“I was given a clear message play according to the ball, there was no rush from the dressing room, no extra pressure, they were like ‘play whatever you feel best’. The ball was coming better on the bat so I was trying little more and also with wickets in hand, we were in good position,” Bhatia added.

Wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry was on Thursday drafted into India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against Australia and the Women’s World Cup after Yastika Bhatia was ruled out with a knee injury.

Bhatia hurt her left knee during India’s preparatory camp in Visakhapatnam, the BCCI said on Thursday.

“The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Yastika Bhatia’s progress and the team wishes Yastika Bhatia a speedy recovery,” the BCCI said in a media release.

Chetry’s inclusion in the senior squad means she will no longer feature for India A in their World Cup warm-up game.

“Chetry, who now is a part of the India squad for the Australia series and the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, will no longer be a part of the India A squad, which is scheduled to take part in a warm-up match in the World Cup,” it added.

Assam’s Chetry’s record in 7 T20Is that he has played is pretty modest as far as her batting exploits are concerned. She has scored only 37 runs in 4 innings with a top score of 24 and very poor strike-rate of 90 plus. She hasn’t hit a single six in her four innings.

India will host Australia in a three-match ODI series beginning September 14 in Mullanpur.

The Women in Blue will then play two World Cup warm-ups in Bengaluru before facing co-hosts Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Guwahati on September 30.