Best is yet to come: First female Test centurion at Lord’s Yastika Bhatia
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 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 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,” she said.
