Bhatia’s Lord’s Century Marks Return from Injury, Highlights Pay Parity Impact
Following a felicitations ceremony by the Baroda Cricket Association, Bhatia credits mentors and teammates for her recovery from an 18-month ACL absence and outlines ambitions for the 2028 Olympics.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has become the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s, registering a match-winning 113 off 158 balls against England. The milestone concludes a significant comeback from a career-threatening ACL injury that sidelined her for more than 18 months and caused her to miss the 2025 ODI World Cup.
Bhatia was felicitated by the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) in Vadodara following the achievement. Speaking at the event, she described the emotional weight of the innings, comparing the feeling of scoring the century to a divine experience she previously felt at the Mahakal Temple. She stated that standing before the applause at Lord’s felt akin to standing before God, a moment that validated her resilience after a difficult period away from the game.
The recovery process involved surgery and extensive rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where her mother, Garima Bhatia, stayed with her for almost the entire duration. Yastika Bhatia credited mentor Kiran More for his reassurance that her time would come, and teammate Smriti Mandhana for sharing her own experience of overcoming a 2017 injury to provide mental strength during rehabilitation.
Bhatia highlighted the structural improvements in the sport, noting that pay parity has placed match fees on par with the men’s team. She argued that this financial equity encourages parents to view cricket as a viable career for young girls, a sentiment supported by the consistent backing of the BCA and former Indian cricketer Rajkuvardevi (Geeta) Gaekwad, who had previously predicted her international success.
Looking ahead, Bhatia expressed a specific ambition to represent India at the 2028 Olympics, where women’s cricket is included as a sport. She aims to contribute to a potential gold medal win for the country, building on the support of coaches Amol Muzumdar and Harmanpreet Kaur, who maintained contact throughout her recovery. Her return signals a renewed focus on major tournaments, including the Champions Trophy, as she seeks to cement her place in the national squad.
