Sachin Tendulkar drops in at Lord’s, gives pep talks 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 squad: the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Dressed in a brown shirt and beige trousers, Tendulkar spoke to Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates at Lord’s just minutes before the game started.

According to Sky Sports, Tendulkar made an unannounced stop at Lord’s 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.

What a moment

Sachin Tendulkar joins the Indian women’s team on the field at Lord’s ahead of the final morning match against England pic.twitter.com/GpLtYLMUYG— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 13, 2026

The timing of the visit could hardly have been more significant. India headed into the final day as overwhelming favorites after dominating three days of the one-off Test, with England reduced to 130 for 6 while chasing an unlikely target of 457 runs. They were only four wickets away from a glorious victory. Tendulkar’s words added another memorable moment to the already historic event.

The batting legend has been spending time in the UK for the past few days. On Friday, Tendulkar was spotted on Center Court at Wimbledon alongside his wife Anjali as they watched 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 RULES ENGLAND AT LORD’S

India claimed their lead thanks to a near-flawless performance in the first three days of the Test. Yastika Bhatia made a magnificent 113 off 158 balls to become the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s. Her landmark anchored India’s second innings after Smriti Mandhana laid the foundations with a blistering 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 batsmen built a platform, the Indian bowlers blew the match wide open in front of the 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 equalized from the other end with her intensity to leave England in deep trouble for the opening hour of the innings.

Off-spinner Sneh Rana then strengthened India’s grip on the contest, picking up key wickets as England slumped to 130 for 6 despite a struggling half-century from Amy Jones.

India are now on the verge of one of the biggest victories in the history of their women’s test team. A win 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 victories for the side, with Tendulkar’s surprise appearance part of what could be a momentous day for Indian cricket.

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Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

13 Jul 2026 16:10 IST