Sachin Tendulkar drops in at Lord's, leads pep talk as India women chase historic win
As India prepared for the final day of the historic Lord’s Test against England, there was a familiar presence in the team huddle: the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Dressed in a brown shirt and beige trousers, Tendulkar was seen speaking to Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates at Lord’s just minutes before the start of play.
According to Sky Sports, Tendulkar dropped by Lord’s unannounced and found time to chat with the Indian women’s team, who were just four wickets away from scripting history at the Home of Cricket.
The timing of the visit could hardly have been more significant. India headed into the final day overwhelming favourites after dominating three days of the one-off Test, with England reduced to 130 for 6 while chasing an improbable target of 457 runs. With just four wickets separating them from a famous victory, Tendulkar’s words added another memorable moment to an already historic occasion.
The batting legend has been spending time in the United Kingdom over the past few days. On Friday, Tendulkar was spotted at Centre Court at Wimbledon alongside his wife Anjali, watching the men’s singles semi-final between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill was also part of the Royal Box during the marquee clash.
INDIA DOMINATE ENGLAND AT LORD’S
India earned their commanding position through a near-flawless performance across the first three days of the Test. Yastika Bhatia produced a magnificent 113 off 158 balls to become the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s. Her landmark knock anchored India’s second innings after Smriti Mandhana had laid the foundation with a brisk 70. Richa Ghosh then added the finishing touches with an unbeaten half-century as Harmanpreet Kaur declared on 341 for 7, setting England a daunting target of 457.
If the batters built the platform, India’s bowlers blew the match wide open before stumps.
Kranti Gaud struck with the very first ball of England’s chase, dismissing Tammy Beaumont, before removing Heather Knight in another incisive spell with the new ball. Sayali Satghare matched her intensity from the other end, leaving England in deep trouble inside the opening hour of the innings.
Off-spinner Sneh Rana then tightened India’s grip on the contest, picking up crucial wickets as England slipped to 130 for 6 despite Amy Jones’ fighting half-century.
India now stand on the verge of one of the biggest victories in the history of their women’s Test team. Victory at Lord’s would not only seal the first-ever women’s Test at the iconic venue but also mark one of the most significant overseas wins for the side, with Tendulkar’s surprise appearance becoming part of what could be a landmark day for Indian cricket.
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