‘We Have Always Tried to Be the First Ever’: Amol Muzumdar Ahead of Historic Lord’s Test

India Women are on the cusp of scripting another chapter in cricket history when they take on England in the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s beginning Friday, July 10. Addressing the media two days before the game, head coach Amol Muzumdar called the occasion a dream for every cricketer.

“It just boggles my mind that this is the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s. It is a dream to play a Test match for any Indian cricketer, let alone at Lord’s. Everyone who wears the whites tomorrow (on Friday) will be proud to be here.”

Muzumdar also connected the occasion to India’s growing legacy in the women’s game.

“We have always tried to be the first ever. We were the first team to win the ODI World Cup, and now we have the opportunity to play the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s.”

Moving On From World Cup Heartbreak

India enter the Test after an underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign, but Muzumdar believes the team has turned the page.

“To be honest, it has been a mixed bag. We were disappointed with the World Cup, but the character of the team had to come through. We had to recover quickly and prepare for this Test match.”

He added that five productive days of training, including a camp at Wormsley Cricket Club, helped the squad reset mentally.

“What has gone cannot be changed. We need to stay in the present and look forward.”

Pratika Rawal Ruled Out, Priya Punia Added

The biggest team news from the press conference was the confirmation that opener Pratika Rawal will miss the Test.

“Pratika Rawal has been ruled out due to the knee injury she suffered during the India A match. She required stitches, so Priya Punia has been added to the squad.”

‘Red-Ball Cricket Brings Different Emotions’

A noted red-ball cricketer himself, Muzumdar admitted that returning to Lord’s brought back cherished memories.

“I came here in 1996 and watched Sourav Ganguly score his maiden Test hundred while Rahul Dravid made his debut. Those are unforgettable memories.”

He believes Test cricket continues to hold a unique place despite the limited opportunities in the women’s game.

“Red-ball cricket brings different emotions. It presents different challenges and different excitement. If you are a professional cricketer, switching between red-ball and white-ball cricket should simply be a mental adjustment.”

Message to Fans: ‘Keep Your Television Sets On’

Asked what message he had for Indian fans with multiple marquee sporting events taking place simultaneously, Muzumdar offered a simple response.

“My message is simple, keep your television sets on. There will be Wimbledon, football, men’s cricket and this historic Test match. Keep watching.”

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