In a candid PTI interview, 32-year-old Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana has emerged as a vocal champion for expanding Test cricket in the women’s game, calling for more matches and dedicated series just ahead of India’s landmark one-off Test against England at Lord’s from 10th to 13th July 2026.
The seasoned campaigner, fresh off her inclusion in the Test squad announced on 2nd May 2026, views the format as her true calling amid a packed white-ball calendar that includes the upcoming 10th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales (12th June to 5th July). With India set to travel for a three-match T20I series from 28th May to 2nd June, followed by this historic red-ball clash at the “Home of Cricket,” Rana’s words underscore a growing hunger for the longest format to take centre stage.
Sneh Rana’s Test pedigree speaks volumes. Debuting against England at Bristol on 16th June 2021, she has since claimed 24 wickets across 5 matches (8 innings) at an impressive average of 22.75 and economy of 3.09, boasting two four-wicket hauls, a five-wicket bag, and a memorable 10-wicket match haul.
With the bat, she’s aggregated 156 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate of 42.97 and an average of 26, including a gritty half-century. “Test Matches have always been my favourite format,” she declared. “It is going to be in an iconic ground. I am very excited to play there. Let’s hope that I can perform better for my team.” Sneh Rana on the upcoming Test at Lord’s.
Her advocacy hits harder given the context. India, under skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Muzumdar, stunned the world by clinching their maiden senior-level ICC title in the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup (30th September to 2nd November 2025, hosted by India and partly in Sri Lanka). Rana starred in the triumph, smashing 99 runs at a strike rate of 113.79 (average 49.50) in 5 innings across 6 matches, while snaring 7 wickets at 45.42 (economy 5.67) in 6 innings.
The final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, saw Harmanpreet Kaur lift the trophy, the first Indian captain to do so at home, amid emotional scenes with legends Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra, who tearfully held it aloft as a nod to pioneers.
Yet, challenges loom. India crashed out in the league stage of the 9th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (hosted by Bangladesh, played in the UAE) via a 9-run loss to Australia. Placed in Group 1 alongside Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, India, and Pakistan for the 2026 edition, they open against arch-rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston on 14th June (7 PM IST).
Notably omitted from the T20 squad (announced 2nd May, third after England and New Zealand), Rana remains unfazed. “It is okay. Failure can lead to downfall. It is important to take it forward. My fans call me the comeback queen. I will come back with a bang.” Her mindset? Pure resilience: “It is all within. How do you take your failures matters. I am very stubborn. That is why I am called a rebel. I fight with the circumstances. You should have that stubbornness. Everything falls into place.”
As a senior bridging eras, Rana excels in team dynamics, too. “Yes, I want to play more test matches. I also want to play in the Women’s Cricket Test Match/series. I am also hoping for the same,” she urged, directly addressing the format’s scarcity. On bonding with youngsters post-WPL and professional transitions: “It is very easy for us. The youngsters are very proactive. It feels good when we bring our thoughts and strategies.” Her senior role? “We want to make them comfortable. We want them to enjoy and share their things without hesitation. I want to make everyone around me comfortable.”
With the Test squad freshly named and Lord’s beckoning post-World Cup, Rana eyes redemption. “The test match team has just been announced. I will try to do better in that.” Her plea for more Tests isn’t just personal, it’s a rallying cry for women’s cricket to embrace the red-ball soul, potentially scripting history at cricket’s grandest stage.
(Quotes sourced from Press Trust of India).
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.