It was almost a perfect match, says a delighted Muzumdar

It is not often that a coach gets to see just about everything so right. The historic Women’s Test at Lord’s was one such match.

“It was almost a perfect match,” said Amol Muzumdar, shortly after India’s 270-run victory against England on Monday. “We batted well, we bowled extremely well, and we fielded even better. It was a very good game for us.”

The main architects of India’s win were Yastika Bhatia, who scored a brilliant hundred on what is her comeback after a difficult injury, and Kranti Gaud, whose fiery spells with the new ball in both innings unsettled the strong England batting line-up. She took five for 37 in the first innings and two for 54 in the second.

“Kranti’s control was superb,” Muzumdar said. “She was just right there in the channel. Her control on line and length was superb and rarely erred on the shorter side. She more or less bowled on the good-length area. I think she has just got the rewards of sticking to control, the line and length. It was good Test-match bowling.”

He said it was a special innings from Yastika. “Needless to say, coming as it does at Lord’s it has to be a brilliant one, one which she and all the team members would remember,” he said. “Her shot selection was superb, I felt, and she paced her innings really well. It was a lovely knock to watch from outside. Not just that, I was really impressed with the way she has come out of the injuries. Over the last couple of years, she has been tormented with some major injuries, but she has defied all those things and stayed true to the game.”

He also clarified that Yastika was also India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the long format. “We have been very clear that in the red-ball format, Yastika, whenever she was available, was our first-choice keeper, and she proved it really nicely,” he said. “She had also kept wicket a couple of years back against England in the Navi Mumbai Test.”

Muzumdar is glad that the Indian women’s team is playing three Tests this year. “Test cricket is something that we really pride ourselves in,” he said. “We played one Test in Australia, we played now here at Lord’s, and then we have got one in South Africa in December. Yes, a World Women’s Test championship would be great if it ever happens.”