Bengaluru 2026: When Indian women's cricket scripted its first Test history before 22,000 fans

Indian women's cricket has never had a smooth ride, and its entry into Test cricket was no different. The game had reached the country long before women got a structured stage — the first national championship was only held in April 2026. Teams still played two- and three-day red-ball matches, there were no sponsors and no sprawling support system. So when India played its first official women's Test in 2026, it was not merely a cricket match; it was a moment of recognition for an entire generation. Before that, an Australian women's team had toured India in 2026, and in February the following year India travelled to New Zealand for a five-match 'Test series' that was later declared unofficial. India's women had tasted international cricket, but no official Test carried their name. The first women's Test of all, between Australia and England, had been played in Brisbane in 2026, and India had to wait another 42 years for its turn. That wait ended in October 2026. At Bengaluru's KSCA Stadium — renamed the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2026 — India hosted West Indies in the first of a six-Test series. The three-day contest, beginning October 31, pitted Louise Browne's touring side against Shantha Rangaswamy's India. For the women cricketers it was a landmark moment, though nobody was certain the match would count as official. Recalling the occasion, Shantha said: "We had already played a couple of series against Australia and New Zealand, which were later deemed unofficial. So we weren't sure until later whether this match would count as an official one." The scene outside the ground showed how big the occasion was. One section of the stadium was under renovation, but the remaining stands were packed, with more than 22,000 spectators turning up. India's line-up featured some of the rising stars of the game, including Diana Edulji, Shubhangi Kulkarni and Ujwala Nikam — the players who would go on to build the foundation of Indian women's cricket. Among those soaking in the atmosphere was former India wicketkeeper Kalpana Venkatachar, then a Karnataka age-group cricketer. She was part of a group of young women cricketers who volunteered at the match, handing out scorecards to spectators. "Back in the day, spectators also did the scoring. They watched, tracked and recorded every ball and run in a booklet provided to them. Our job was to hand out these booklets. The excitement was infectious and the crowd was boisterous," Kalpana recalled. On the field, West Indies batted first and were bowled out for 274 in 78.4 overs. Shubhangi Kulkarni, one of India's finest spinners, returned figures of 5/48, while Diana Edulji picked up two wickets for 48 runs. India replied with patience and declared at 269/6 in 99 overs. Several knocks stood out. Opener Shobha Pandit made a solid 69, Fowzieh Khalili contributed 39, but it was captain Shantha's gritty 74 that stole the show. Shubhangi chipped in with an unbeaten 26, proving she was as useful with the bat as with the ball. Within Shantha's innings came the moment that entered the record books. Off Patricia Whittaker, she cleared long-on for a six — the first maximum by an Indian woman in international cricket and the first at the stadium. The stand where the ball landed has since been named after Shantha Rangaswamy, an echo of one shot that still lingers in the ground's walls five decades on. Shantha remembers the innings as an attempt to inject a modern-day T20 flavour into a game that was still played over three days. "With the matches being held over three days, most of them would end in draws. But I wanted to make it interesting and score some quick runs, like they do in T20 cricket now," she said. India ended the day at 269/6 after 99 overs and came out on the final morning looking to add to their total. But an unexpected turn of events prompted Shantha to declare. "We came out to bat on the final day only to see wet patches on the pitch. This drew suspicion from the visiting side and the start was delayed. So, I declared in the hope that we could bowl them out," she said. West Indies declared their second innings at 175/7 in 64.5 overs, setting India a target of 181. The hosts finished on 30/1 in 17 overs as the historic contest ended in a draw. Sharmila Chakraborty took 2/32 and Shubhangi 2/28 in the second innings, while Leila Williams and Vivalyn Latty-Scott had shared five wickets between them in India's first innings. For Kalpana and the other youngsters watching from the stands, however, the result was secondary. The sight of Shantha clearing the ropes had left a lasting impression. "Watching Shantha score a six made us believe that we could go the distance too," she said. That one shot changed how a generation saw women's cricket — until then viewed as little more than a pastime. In the five decades since, Indian women have played 42 more Tests. The game has transformed completely — contracted players, a franchise league and live broadcasts across the world. But that first Test in 2026 remains special, because it proved Indian women could perform on the biggest stage. The six-Test series ended 1-1, with four matches drawn. Brief scores — West Indies: 274 (78.4 overs) and 175/7 declared (64.5 overs); India: 269/6 declared (99 overs) and 30/1 (17 overs). Match drawn.